Lawsuit accuses Starbucks of mislabeling 8 'sugar-free' protein drinks

Starbucks is facing a lawsuit over allegations that their "sugar-free" protein drinks may actually contain more sugar than a Reese's peanut butter cup. The lawsuit, filed in Seattle, alleges that eight of Starbucks' protein beverages in the U.S. contain varying amounts of sugar despite being labeled as sugarless. The menu on Starbucks' U.S. website lists a 16-ounce Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha with 16 grams of sugar and a 20-ounce version with 21 grams of sugar.

For comparison, a Reese's peanut butter cup contains 11 grams of sugar. Hagens Berman, a law firm specializing in class action cases, filed the lawsuit on behalf of three individual consumers who purchased the sugar-free protein drinks from Starbucks in California, New York, and Washington. Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman, stated that consumers avoid sugar for various reasons, including health concerns, diabetes, and blood glucose levels, and that this significant mislabeling is a major issue for many.