Starbucks Sugar-Free Lawsuit Alleges 13 to 21 Grams of Sugar

This case is about the names Starbucks gives to eight of its protein drinks. The lawsuit says Starbucks sells hot and iced "Sugar-Free" vanilla and caramel protein lattes and matchas, but that each venti drink actually contains roughly 13 to 21 grams of sugar. The sugar comes from lactose, the natural sugar in the milk used to make the drinks.

The people who sued say that under federal rules a drink cannot truthfully be called "sugar-free" if it has more than half a gram of sugar per standard serving, and that naming these drinks "Sugar-Free" is false and misleading. They also say Starbucks left out a required note telling customers the drinks are not low-calorie. The three customers who brought the case say they believed the drinks had no sugar, did not see the sugar amount before paying, and either would not have bought the drinks or would have paid less if they had known.

Starbucks disagrees. The company says the claims have no merit and that it has given customers clear information about its drinks, sugar-free options, and nutrition through its announcements, menus, website, and app. Starbucks intends to defend the case.

As for status, the lawsuit was only just filed on October 2, 2026, and it is still in its very early stages.