Starbucks Faces Lawsuit Over Mislabeling 'Sugar-free' Drinks

WHO:

Fast Company - The lawsuit was filed by Hagens Berman, a law firm that specializes in class action cases, on behalf of three individual consumers from California, New York, and Washington.

AP News - Starbucks is the company facing the lawsuit.

WHAT:

Fast Company - Starbucks introduced its protein drinks to meet consumer demand for functional beverages and catch up to rivals like Dutch Bros, which launched protein-enhanced coffee drinks in 2024.

Fast Company - The lawsuit claims that the sugar content in the drinks can be compared to that found in a Kit Kat bar, which has 22 grams of sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit seeks to stop Starbucks from using the label "sugar-free" on products that contain sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit claims that the 20-ounce (0.6-liter) version of the Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha contains 21 grams of sugar, while the 16-ounce (0.5-liter) version has 16 grams of sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit alleges that the sugar content in the drinks can be compared to that found in a Reese’s peanut butter cup, which has 11 grams of sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of U.S. consumers who purchased the drinks and wants the court to order Starbucks to stop using the label “sugar-free” on products that contain sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit claims that the 16-ounce (0.5-liter) iced Starbucks Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte contains 9 grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein, while the 20-ounce (0.6-liter) version of the same drink has 21 grams of sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit seeks to stop Starbucks from using the label "sugar-free" on products that contain sugar.

Fast Company - Starbucks introduced its protein drinks in September 2025 to meet consumer demand for functional beverages.

Fast Company - The 16-ounce iced Starbucks Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte has 9 grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein.

Fast Company - The federal lawsuit filed late Friday in Seattle alleges that eight protein beverages Starbucks sells in the U.S. contain varying amounts of sugar even though the company lists them as sugarless.

Fast Company - The menu on Starbucks’ U.S. website listed a 16-ounce Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha with 16 grams of sugar and a 20-ounce version of the same drink with 21 grams of sugar.

Fast Company - The lawsuit seeks damages on behalf of U.S. consumers who bought the drinks and wants the court to order Starbucks to stop using the label “sugar-free” on products that contain sugar.

ABC News Business - A consumer lawsuit has been filed against Starbucks over claims that eight protein drinks labeled as "sugar-free" may contain more sugar than a Reese’s peanut butter cup.

WHY:

Fast Company - Steve Berman, a co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman, stated, “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.”

Fast Company - The plaintiffs contend that Starbucks’ naming and marketing of sugar-free products is “false, deceptive and unlawful” and that the company violated federal labeling regulations.

ABC News Business - The lawsuit alleges that the mislabeling of the drinks could mislead consumers regarding their sugar content.

HOW:

Fast Company - Starbucks stated that it doesn’t add sugar to the drinks, using sugar-free syrup for flavoring, and that the sugar content comes from the protein-boosted milk used in the drinks.

Fast Company - Starbucks stated that it uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring in its protein drinks and that the sugar content comes from the protein-boosted milk used in the drinks.

Fast Company - Starbucks stated that it uses sugar-free syrup for flavoring in its protein drinks.

Fast Company - Starbucks stated that the sugar in its protein drinks comes from the protein-boosted milk it uses and that it doesn’t add sugar to the drinks, using sugar-free syrup for flavoring.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 22:00 UTC)

Starbucks has launched its new line of protein drinks to keep pace with competitors like Dutch Bros, which introduced protein-enhanced coffee drinks in 2024. However, a lawsuit has emerged claiming that the sugar content in these beverages is comparable to that of a Kit Kat bar, which contains 22 grams of sugar, and seeks to prevent Starbucks from labeling these drinks as "sugar-free." In response, Starbucks asserts that it does not add sugar, using sugar-free syrup for flavoring, and that the sugar content is derived from the protein-boosted milk used in the drinks.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 20:00 UTC)

A lawsuit has been filed against Starbucks, claiming that its Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha drinks contain more sugar than advertised, with the 20-ounce version having 21 grams and the 16-ounce version containing 16 grams. The suit compares the sugar content of these drinks to that of a Reese’s peanut butter cup, which has 11 grams of sugar, and seeks damages for U.S. consumers while requesting that the court order Starbucks to stop labeling these products as "sugar-free." In response, Starbucks has stated that the sugar comes from the protein-boosted milk used in the drinks, while they use sugar-free syrup for flavoring.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 19:06 UTC)

A lawsuit has been filed against Starbucks, claiming that their iced Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte contains sugar despite its labeling, with the 16-ounce version having 9 grams of sugar and the 20-ounce version containing 21 grams. The suit aims to prevent Starbucks from using the term "sugar-free" on products that actually contain sugar. In response, Starbucks has stated that the sugar comes from the protein-boosted milk used in their drinks, while they use sugar-free syrup for flavoring.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 18:01 UTC)

A lawsuit has been filed by the law firm Hagens Berman on behalf of three consumers from California, New York, and Washington, regarding Starbucks' protein drinks introduced in September 2025. The 16-ounce iced Starbucks Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte contains 9 grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein, which has raised concerns about potential mislabeling. Steve Berman, a co-founder of Hagens Berman, emphasized that many consumers avoid sugar for health reasons, making accurate labeling crucial.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 15:02 UTC)

A federal lawsuit has been filed in Seattle against Starbucks, claiming that eight of its protein beverages marketed as sugar-free actually contain varying amounts of sugar. The suit highlights discrepancies in the company's U.S. menu, where a 16-ounce Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha is listed with 16 grams of sugar, and a 20-ounce version contains 21 grams. Starbucks has responded by stating that the sugar comes from the protein-boosted milk used in the drinks, emphasizing that they do not add sugar and use sugar-free syrup for flavoring.

(UPDATED October 6, 2026 04:04 UTC)

Starbucks is facing a consumer lawsuit over claims that eight of its protein drinks labeled as "sugar-free" may actually contain more sugar than a Reese’s peanut butter cup. The lawsuit alleges that this mislabeling could mislead consumers about the true sugar content of these drinks. As the case unfolds, it raises important questions about food labeling and consumer awareness.