Starbucks Faces "Sugar-Free" Labeling Lawsuit Over Protein Drinks
Starbucks is facing a federal class-action lawsuit that claims eight of their "sugar-free" protein drinks contain anywhere from 13 to 21 grams of sugar. Three consumers from California, New York, and Washington filed the suit on October 2, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.
The Starbucks sugar-free protein drinks lawsuit covers the Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Latte, Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte, Sugar-Free Vanilla Protein Matcha, and Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Matcha, along with the iced version of each. Starbucks rolled out the lineup in September 2025 as part of their "Back to Starbucks" menu refresh, aiming to cash in on the growing demand for high-protein drinks.
According to the complaint, the sugar comes from lactose, which occurs naturally in milk. Starbucks makes the drinks with protein-boosted milk and flavors them with sugar-free syrups. The plaintiffs argue that using a sugar-free syrup doesn't make the finished drink sugar-free, and that customers wouldn't expect a drink with that name to carry 13 to 21 grams of sugar in a venti serving.
Federal sugar-free labeling rules sit at the heart of the case. Under FDA regulations, a food or drink can generally be called "sugar-free" only if it has less than 0.5 grams of sugar per serving. The suit also points out that the FDA requires an extra disclaimer when a sugar-free product isn't low in calories, since shoppers tend to read the label as a sign of fewer calories. Venti servings of the drinks run between 270 and 340 calories, according to Starbucks' website.
Steve Berman, co-founder and managing partner of Hagens Berman, the law firm behind the case, said 21 grams is "hardly 'sugar-free.'" He noted that many people avoid sugar for health reasons, including diabetes, and that a label like this matters to them. The firm also pointed to the American Heart Association's recommendation that women keep added sugar to about 25 grams a day.
Starbucks says they don't add any sugar to these drinks. Their website lists the sugar content for each beverage and describes them as having no added sugar. A company spokesperson said Starbucks has been clear about nutritional information across their menus, app, and website, and that they plan to fight the lawsuit.
Rival chain Dutch Bros takes a different approach with a similar drink. Their lower-sugar caramel protein latte goes by the name Hopscotch Zero Sugar Added Protein Latte, and a 16-ounce iced version has seven grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein. A 16-ounce iced Starbucks Sugar-Free Caramel Protein Latte has nine grams of sugar and 29 grams of protein.
The lawsuit seeks money back for U.S. customers who bought the drinks and asks the court to order Starbucks to stop calling products that contain sugar "sugar-free." Anyone who ordered one of the eight drinks can follow the case through the Hagens Berman case page.
For more articles like this, visit our Lifestyle News Page!