Did you buy Starbucks’ “Sugar-Free” protein latte or matcha beverages? Starbucks may have misled consumers about the sugar content of some of its products, violating consumers’ rights and federal regulations. Contact us »
WHAT’S THE ISSUE?
Consumers represented by members of the Hagens Berman consumer protection team filed a class-action lawsuit against Starbucks accusing it of misleading consumers about the sugar content in eight of its products labeled “Sugar-Free.” The “Protein Line” matcha and latte beverages allegedly contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar, making them sugar-free in name only and in violation of regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite this, Starbucks still promises consumers via its website the ability “to make informed nutritional decisions,” which attorneys deem deceptive and false.
WHAT STARBUCKS DRINKS ARE ALLEGEDLY MISLABELED AS “SUGAR-FREE”?
According to the lawsuit, Starbucks makes deceptive claims in the names of the following beverages:
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte
- Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte
- Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha
- Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha
- Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte
- Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte
- Iced Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha
- Iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha
If you purchased any of the above listed “Sugar-Free” Starbucks protein beverages, you may have been affected. Contact us »
STARBUCKS “SUGAR-FREE” CLAIMS & ALLEGED MISREPRESENTATIONS
According to the lawsuit, Starbucks’ “Protein Beverages” line labeled as sugar-free actually contain between 13 and 21 grams of sugar, nearly as much as the American Heart Association recommends daily for women (25 grams). For comparison, a standard package of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups contains 22 grams of total sugar.
HOW DOES THE FDA REGULATE “SUGAR-FREE” LABELS?
Regarding the use of the labeling “sugar-free”, the lawsuit states, “…federal law prohibits their use on a beverage containing more than 0.5 grams of sugars per reference amount customarily consumed, and that state consumer protection law forbids selling these products under their false and misleading names.”
According to the lawsuit, the FDA imposed this specific labeling requirement because, as the regulation itself states, consumers regard “sugar free” to indicate “a product which is low in calories or significantly reduced in calories.”
By using the term without the required legend, Starbucks conveyed to consumers not only that the so-called sugar-free drinks contain no sugar — which is allegedly false — but also that they are low in or reduced in calories, which is likewise false, attorneys state.
WHAT ARE MY CONSUMER RIGHTS AGAINST STARBUCKS?
Hagens Berman believes consumers have a right to honest information about the products they buy. The firm’s seasoned consumer-protection attorneys are investigating the rights of consumers for Starbucks’ alleged misrepresentations and seek repayment for those who purchased these products under false information. Legal action may also seek to require Starbucks to name its beverages more accurately, per federal regulations.
HOW CAN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT HELP?
A class-action lawsuit allows the many individual consumers to seek accountability together. A class-action lawsuit seeks to level the playing field, bringing strength to collective action to change unlawful practices. While these measures do not bring immediate relief, they are a time-tested method of holding companies accountable for wrongdoing and allow individuals to stand up collectively to powerful entities like Starbucks. Hagens Berman’s attorneys seek to represent consumers’ rights under state consumer-protection laws.
TOP CONSUMER-RIGHTS LAW FIRM
Hagens Berman is a nationally recognized and awarded consumer rights law firm and has achieved total settlements valued at more than $345 billion in litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. Hagens Berman has achieved record-breaking settlements in consumer-protection lawsuits, and your claim will be handled by attorneys experienced in this area of law. The firm is also handling ongoing litigation against Starbucks regarding environmental sustainability, human rights and chemicals in its decaf coffee.
NO COST TO YOU
In no case will any class member ever be asked to pay any out-of-pocket sum. In the event Hagens Berman or any other firm obtains a settlement that provides benefits to class members, the court will decide a reasonable fee to be awarded to the legal team for the class.
