The numbers are at the heart of the lawsuit, which accuses Starbucks of using “false, deceptive and unlawful” naming and marketing for the drinks.
asserted
which → accuse → drinks
The complaint further alleges that the chain violated federal labeling regulations, which prohibit using “sugar-free” on beverages containing more than 0.5 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving.
asserted
which → allege → serving
“Twenty-one grams is hardly ‘sugar-free,’” Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman, said in a press release.
asserted
Berman → manage → release
The law firm brought the lawsuit last week in federal court in Seattle on behalf of three consumers who purchased the protein drinks in California, New York and Washington.
asserted
who → bring → California
“Consumers avoid sugar for various reasons whether that be general health, diabetes and blood glucose levels or other factors, and for many, a staunch mislabeling like this is significant,” Berman added.
asserted
Berman → avoid → this
“Beverages with this much sugar are like drinking a candy bar.”
asserted
Beverages → drink → bar
Starbucks isn’t buying it.
asserted
Starbucks → buy → it
“We believe these claims have no merit,” a spokesperson for the company told The Post.
uncertain
spokesperson → believe → Post
“Starbucks has consistently and clearly provided information about its protein beverages, sugar-free options, customization choices, and nutritional content across product announcements, menus, marketing materials, Starbucks.com and the Starbucks app, and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves in this matter.
asserted
we → provide → matter
So what’s really in the cup?
asserted
what → ’ → cup
The issue, it seems, comes down to wording.
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it → seem → wording
Starbucks says the drinks in question contain lactose, a naturally occurring sugar found in the protein-boosted milk used in the beverages.
asserted
drinks → say → beverages
The company says it doesn’t add sugar to the beverages and instead uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring.
asserted
it → say → flavoring
And while the drinks’ individual names describe them as “sugar-free,” Starbucks’ website places them under a “no added sugar options” section.
asserted
website → describe → section
That distinction has prompted some online users to argue that the “sugar-free” label refers to the syrup used — not the entire beverage.
asserted
label → prompt → syrup
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asserted
deals → end → ?
“All of the “sugar-free” protein lattes are labeled “sugar-free vanilla protein latte/match” or “sugar free caramel protein latte/matcha” the sugar-free label is before the syrup.
asserted
label → label → syrup
It does not say the drink is sugar free,” one TikToker noted.
asserted
TikToker → say → ?
“It’s called a sugar free (syrup) protein latte/matcha indicating the syrup used is sugar free not the [whole] drink as most know milk has natural sugar,” another wrote.
asserted
another → call → sugar
But others argue it’s not that simple.
asserted
it → argue → ?
“Most of y’all are missing the point they marketed it as sugar free, it’s false advertising,” commented one user.
asserted
user → miss → it
“I get what ppl are saying, but it should be ‘no added sugar’ instead of ‘sugar free,'” another wrote.
asserted
another → get → what
“People forgetting diabetes is a thing and that ordering something that is sugar free but actually has sugar is not a good thing,” chimed in a third.
asserted
third → forget → sugar
An expert weighs in
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expert → weigh → ?
For an expert take, The Post turned to Dana Angelo White, a registered dietitian and certified athletic trainer.
asserted
Post → turn → White
She didn’t mince words: “This entire thing is silly.
asserted
thing → mince → words
I don’t blame consumers for being a bit confused, but Starbucks isn’t lying to anyone.”
asserted
Starbucks → blame → anyone
While the company’s app doesn’t indicate “no added sugars” in the drinks’ names, White said customers can look at the ingredients to see that the lattes don’t contain added sugar.
asserted
lattes → indicate → sugar
“There is a decent amount of milk because it’s a latte,” she noted.
asserted
she → be → milk
“There is also some whey protein isolate which is how they get the protein total so high.”
asserted
total → be → ?
White pointed out that while milk contains natural sugars, those aren’t the same as the added sugars found in a Reese’s cup.
asserted
those → point → cup
“Milk sugar comes along with plenty of other nutritious attributes including calcium, Vitamin D, B-vitamins and protein,” she said.
asserted
she → come → calcium
“This food matrix is very different from candy, plus it is digested more slowly thanks to the protein in it.
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it → digest → it
”
The lawsuit is seeking monetary damages for customers who bought the protein beverages.
asserted
who → seek → beverages
It also asks the court to order Starbucks to stop labeling the drinks “sugar-free” if they contain sugar.
asserted
they → ask → sugar
The Aporia
