GoKawiilStarbucks sued over 'sugar-free' label on protein lattes, matcha drinks
A federal class action filed by Hagens Berman on behalf of three consumers in California, New York and Washington accuses Starbucks of falsely marketing certain protein lattes and matcha drinks as 'sugar-free' when they contain 13 to 21 grams of sugar per serving. Starbucks says the sugar comes naturally from its protein-boosted milk, that no sugar is added, and that it uses sugar-free syrup, with nutrition info posted online. The lawsuit seeks damages for affected buyers and a court order barring the 'sugar-free' label on products containing sugar.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The case hinges on whether 'sugar-free' can legally describe a drink whose sugar comes from an ingredient like milk rather than added sweeteners, a distinction that could affect how other food and beverage companies label protein- or dairy-based products. Hagens Berman frames the dispute as being about the product name itself rather than disclosure, which suggests plaintiffs may argue that accurate nutrition labels don't excuse misleading marketing claims.
- Lawsuit claims Starbucks 'sugar-free' drinks have 13-21 grams of sugar per serving.
- Starbucks says sugar comes from protein milk, not added sweeteners, and info is disclosed online.
- Hagens Berman seeks damages and a ban on the 'sugar-free' label for these products.
Source: entrepreneur.com — Jon Small, 2026-10-09
Published there as: “A New Lawsuit Claims Some Starbucks ‘Sugar-Free’ Drinks Have as Much Sugar as a Kit Kat”
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