Introduction
Starbucks Coffee is one of the most popular coffee brands in the world, but a recent complaint alleges that the company’s coffee contains extra potassium, which could be potentially dangerous for some consumers. This article will discuss the complaint, the potential health risks associated with the extra potassium, and what Starbucks is doing in response to the allegations. We will also look at the legal implications of the complaint and what it could mean for the company.
Starbucks Coffee Contains Extra Potassium, Complaint Alleges
A recent complaint has been filed against Starbucks alleging that their coffee contains extra potassium, which can be dangerous for those with kidney problems. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York by a woman who claims that she suffered from a severe allergic reaction after drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee.
The complaint alleges that the coffee contained an excessive amount of potassium, which can be dangerous for those with kidney problems. The plaintiff claims that she was not warned about the potential risks associated with drinking the coffee and that she suffered a severe allergic reaction as a result. The complaint also alleges that Starbucks failed to properly label the coffee with the appropriate warnings.
The complaint seeks damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. It also seeks an injunction requiring Starbucks to properly label its coffee with warnings about the potential risks associated with drinking it.
This is not the first time that Starbucks has been accused of failing to properly label its products. In 2017, the company was sued for failing to properly label its Frappuccino drinks with warnings about the potential risks associated with consuming them. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
It remains to be seen how this latest complaint against Starbucks will be resolved. However, it serves as a reminder that companies must take proper precautions when labeling their products to ensure that consumers are aware of any potential risks associated with consuming them.
In a complaint that has us flashing back to the Subway tuna fish scandal, a coffee company called Puroast alleges that a Starbucks coffee blend contains a potentially harmful additive.
Puroast, which makes several blends of coffee for home consumption, filed a complaint with the North Carolina Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Division alleging that Starbucks Dark French Roast coffee had higher than normal levels of potassium. According to The New York Post, the company conducted independent testing which revealed that the blend has 13% more potassium than Starbucks’ House Blend.
The additional potassium would help to tone down the bitterness of the blend, according to the complaint, and would likely be intentional. “These significant variances … can only be explained by the purposeful addition of potassium to the coffee during Starbucks’ production process,” the complaint states.
The company alleges, through the complaint, that Starbucks is duping some serious coffee drinkers by not revealing the additive. They claim the “100% Arabica” label is misleading to coffee drinkers who believe Arabica beans are of higher quality.
It also claims that those who have kidney disease could be harmed by too much potassium in the bloodstream, which can result in a condition called hyperkalemia. An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains, on average, about 116 milligrams of potassium and, according to the National Kidney Foundation, is generally safe at that level. The Foundation recommends no more than three cups of coffee per day. However, undeclared potassium could potentially harm those with kidney disease if they are unaware of the excess potassium, asserts Puroast’s claim.
Starbucks denied that it adds anything to its Dark French Roast. “We are aware of the complaint Puroast has filed with the North Carolina Consumer Protection Division and believe it is without merit,” a company spokesperson said. As Puroast makes coffee that claims to have “7 times more antioxidants” and “70% less acid” than other coffees, according to its website, it would potentially benefit from taking down the large competitor, especially locally where it is sold.
You may recall an independent lab was also used to test the tuna fish served at some Subway locations in Jan. 2021. The testing revealed that the chain’s sandwiches didn’t have any actual tuna in the mix. While the chain defended its product, the issue did hurt the optics of the brand. We’ll see how far this claim goes for Starbucks.