Starbucks Faces Lawsuit Over Misleading ‘Sugar-Free’ Labeling on Protein Drinks
When you order a Starbucks pumpkin spice latte or caramel macchiato, the sugar content is no surprise. But what about drinks labeled “sugar-free”?
A U.S. class-action lawsuit alleges that Starbucks falsely marketed eight protein beverages as “sugar-free,” despite containing 13 to 21 grams of sugar per venti serving due to the natural sugar in milk. The lawsuit, filed in a Seattle federal court, accuses Starbucks of leveraging the protein trend and customer nutritional preferences.
Starbucks refutes the claims, stating they have consistently provided transparent information on their beverages’ nutritional content and intend to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
The lawsuit lists the eight drinks in question, available on both U.S. and Canadian Starbucks websites under “protein beverages,” despite being labeled as “sugar-free.” Launched in September 2025, these drinks were marketed as meeting the demand for higher protein options.
Each of these “sugar-free” drinks contains significant sugar content, ranging from 13 to 21 grams per venti serving. The lawsuit highlights that despite the natural sugar in milk, labeling these drinks as “sugar-free” is misleading consumers.
U.S. federal law prohibits beverages labeled as “sugar-free” from containing over 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving, even if the sugar is from milk. Similarly, Canadian regulations mandate less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving for products labeled as sugar-free.
The lawsuit seeks damages for false advertising and violations of consumer protection laws. It aims to become a class-action suit and demands a jury trial. The complaint was filed by three consumers who purchased Starbucks’s sugar-free protein drinks in California, New York, and Washington.
Consumers are increasingly conscious of sugar intake due to health concerns like diabetes. Steve Berman, a managing partner at the firm behind the lawsuit, emphasized the significance of accurate labeling for consumers trying to manage their sugar consumption.