Starbucks is facing a lawsuit filed by consumers in the United States. The plaintiffs accuse the company of making false claims about eight protein drinks, promoting them as 'sugar-free' even though they contain lactose, which is a type of sugar inherent to milk.
According to a class action lawsuit filed on Friday (02), consumers argue that they did not expect to find amounts ranging from 13 to 21 grams of sugar in drinks advertised this way, specifically in the larger 20 or 24 ounce ('venti') versions.
The petition points out that federal legislation prohibits Starbucks from using the expression 'sugar-free' in products exceeding 0.5 grams of sugar per 355 ml (12 ounce) serving.
Consumers allege that the company is attempting to capitalize on the interest of about 75% of Americans in reducing or eliminating sugar consumption. Furthermore, they claim that Starbucks failed to include mandatory warnings stipulated by federal law, which should inform that the protein drinks are not considered low-calorie foods nor are they intended to aid in weight control.
Starbucks, whose headquarters are located in Seattle, did not issue an immediate statement last Monday. The lawyer representing the consumers also did not provide immediate comments.
The lawsuit was formalized in a federal court in Seattle and seeks compensation for undefined damages, in addition to contesting misleading advertising practices and violations of state consumer protection regulations.
It is common for food manufacturers to be sued for alleged deceptive advertising practices. Among the most recent cases are dozens of lawsuits questioning the use of the terms 'sugar-free' or 'zero sugar' in products that use allulose, an alternative sweetener.
The eight specific Starbucks drinks mentioned in the lawsuit include: Sugar-free Vanilla Protein Latte, Sugar-free Caramel Protein Latte, Sugar-free Vanilla Protein Matcha, and Sugar-free Caramel Protein Matcha, including their respective iced versions. On the Starbucks website, these drinks are described as 'high in protein' and 'no added sugar.' The Venti versions contain between 270 and 340 calories. The company introduced these items in September 2025 as part of its menu renewal called 'Back to Starbucks.'