This is a guest post from Vani Hari (a.k.a. The Food Babe) and New York Times Best Selling author. You can read more about her take on the food industry in her second book, Feeding You Lies!
Trying to get through the maze of what is offered at Starbucks can be pretty daunting - hopefully this information will clear up any nagging thoughts about what's REALLY in their food and drinks. I couldn't help but shake my head at the things I uncovered, which had me asking - how many times have people unknowingly gotten sabotaged at Starbucks?
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Starbucks was using crushed up bugs to color their Strawberry Frappuccinos. Luckily, they responded to the public outcry and eliminated that beetle juice. You'd think they would have taken the time to clean up the rest of their menu, but no such luck.
Did you know that Starbucks uses ingredients that are scarier than bugs and could even be harmful to your health? That's where the real sabotage begins...
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Top 5 Ways To Get Sabotaged At Starbucks:
1. Coffee
You might think it is a bit radical to suggest not drinking their most prized ingredient that makes over 85,000 different combination of drinks, but it's also radical drinking and paying a premium for coffee that's ridden with potential toxins.
Let's get real here, they do not actually serve organic coffee at most Starbucks locations, which means (like all brands of conventional coffee) it's been sprayed with pesticides. We all know Starbucks coffee ain't cheap, but most people don't know that regular consumption of conventional coffee can be a serious source of pesticide exposure.
Starbucks coffee is grown all over the world in developing nations. The United States doesn't regulate the type and amount of pesticides foreign countries use in their production of coffee beans, which makes consuming non-organic coffee on a regular basis pretty risky.
You could be drinking toxins from pesticides that are in fact banned here in the United States but not else where, like the pesticide Chlorpyrifos that is a contact poison. It has caused human deaths, and has been linked to birth defects. It is extremely toxic to birds, freshwater and marine organisms, bees, and other wildlife.
Furthermore, we know that increased exposure to pesticides are linked to birth defects, nerve damage and cancer. The President's Cancer Panel has urged us not to consume food sprayed with pesticides and doesn't believe any amount is safe.
And in regards to their decaf... did you know that conventional decaffeinated coffees are made decaf by soaking the beans with a chemical called ethyl acetate used in nail polish and glues and a carcinogen called methylene chloride?
2. Soy Latte (or anything else with Starbucks organic soy milk)
Logically, it makes sense to choose organic soy milk, since Starbucks decided to eliminate organic cow's milk as an option a few years ago. But not so fast. Starbucks organic soy milk has one ingredient they would rather you not know about.
This ingredient was recently highlighted in a report generated by the Cornucopia Institute and echoed in a recent NYTimes article about non-organic ingredients allowed in organic food. One of those questionable ingredients is carrageenan, which is derived from seaweed and is in Starbucks branded organic soy milk. This substance is reported to cause intestinal inflammation and can be become a carcinogen once it is digested.
How such an ingredient became allowed in organic food is bigger than just Starbucks. However, companies ultimately make the decision to use or not to use these harmful ingredients.
Carrageenan can also be found in other Starbucks food and drink products including their cakes, scones, yogurt and Light Frappuccinos.
3. Baked Goods & Other Food Offerings
Sure, Starbucks made a commitment a couple of years ago to eliminate transfat, artificial colors, and high fructose corn syrup from their food products. They said they listened to us and responded.
However, I think Starbucks may need a hearing aid. Just because a company gets rid of certain ingredients doesn't automatically make the food completely natural or “real”. For instance, the Reduced Fat Cinnamon Swirl Coffee Cake has over 75 ingredients!
Ingredients in Starbucks food products still include:
- Refined Flours - White flour that has been stripped of its nutrients and provides nothing but empty calories that contribute to chronic disease & obesity.
- Chemically Derived Sugars - Some products like the lemon pound cake contain 6 different types of processed sugars (e.g. powdered sugar, glycose syrup, corn syrup, maltodextrin, dextrose, etc.).
- Preservatives - The Mayo Clinic reported that the preservative sodium benzoate (an ingredient found in the Iced Lemon Pound Cake) may increase hyperactivity in children. Also, when sodium benzoate combines with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) benzene can form a carcinogen and kill DNA cells, accelerating aging.
- Growth Hormone - Starbucks has eliminated growth hormone milk in their core dairy products, but not in their food products. That means you could be still be ingesting a substance that has been reported to cause breast, colon and prostate cancers.
- Cellulose Gum - This a filler made from wood pulp your body can't even digest.
- Proplyene Glycol - This is an ingredient in the Apple Fritter and Reduced Fat Cinnamon Swirl Cake, which is derived from petroleum and a key chemical that is used to make anti-freeze.
- Azodicarbonamide - This substance, found in Starbucks croissants, is banned in the U.K., Europe and Australia, and if used in Singapore can result in fines up to $450,000 and a 15 year prison sentence! This ingredient has been reported to cause asthmatic symptoms in people who inhale it and can also increase certain food sensitivities.
- Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) -Several of the listed ingredients are likely genetically modified. We'll never know for sure how much of Starbucks products are genetically modified since they are currently not required to be labeled in this country. But we do know that the consumption of GMO foods poses a serious threat to our health and have been linked to toxicity, allergic reactions and fertility issues.
- Cheap Oils - Soy, canola or corn oil can be found in almost all of Starbucks' products. Over-consumption of these cheap oils are causing an abundance of Omega 6 fatty acids in our diets. The imbalance of Omega 6 fatty acids increases the risk of inflammation, heart disease, obesity, and prostate and bone cancer.
4. "Refreshers" Beverage
This brand new drink that just came out last week gives the allure of fresh and real, but it's anything but. The ingredients are the same for both flavors of the refresher drinks.
What? How can one taste like "Cool Lime" and the other one taste like "Berry Hibiscus" when they have both have the same base ingredients? Huh? Looking at the two different boxes these “handcrafted” drinks came out of, the ingredients read:
Starbucks Refreshers Beverage: Water, Sugar, White Grape Juice Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Natural Green Coffee Flavor, Citric Acid, Erythritol, Antioxidant (Ascorbic Acid E300), Rebaudioside A (Stevia)
Starbucks calls white grape juice concentrate (which involves heating the juice to high temperatures and adding some chemicals to get a more condensed product) "real fruit juice."
The only difference between the two drinks was the addition of freeze dried lime to one drink and freeze dried blackberries to the other. I guess that explains how they "handcraft" it. McDonalds must also handcraft their burgers when they put the bun on them, huh?
It is interesting that Green Coffee Extract was not actually in the drink like they advertise. It is included in the refresher products they sell packaged in the store, but not in the version baristas make behind the counter. Is this their way of tricking us into buying a cheaper derivative of Green Coffee - just the flavor and not the extract?
When I realized that both drinks contained added sugar as the second ingredient and "natural flavor," I immediately knew this drink was pure JUNK. Manufactured natural flavor is contributing to what David Kessler (former head of the FDA) calls a “food carnival” in your mouth. This makes it difficult to stop eating or drinking because the flavors they have synthesized trick your mind into wanting more and more.
Starbucks doesn't give us the full essence of a hibiscus or cucumber mint – just the best 1 millionth part of the taste – so we only want more of that product, which in turns fills Starbucks' pockets. When companies use manufactured flavor, they literally are “hijacking” your taste buds one-by-one.
Please note, natural flavor is found in almost all of Starbucks products, not just this new drink. Their smoothies are also made with a product that comes from a box and contains juice concentrate with natural flavors and natural color as opposed to 100% real fruit.
I should also note that their mocha chocolate sauce, used to flavor many drinks and their chocolate smoothie, still contain high fructose corn syrup, too. They haven't eliminated high fructose corn syrup in their drinks, only their food. This is yet another marketing trick Starbucks has played on us.
5. Frappuccinos
Did you know the CEO of Starbucks doesn't even drink Frappuccinos? And I think I've figured out why. Frappuccinos are full of refined sugar, natural and artificial flavors, and a substance called caramel coloring. California recently included caramel coloring on its annual list of carcinogens that require warning labels.
This type of caramel isn't the stuff you make at home by cooking sugar. This caramel color is manufactured by heating ammonia and sulfites under high pressure, which creates carcinogenic compounds. Caramel color is classified into four different classes; Class IV being the worst and the one that is listed on the Starbucks Frappuccino label.
Whether you choose the regular or light version of a Frappuccino, you are getting a dose of this known carcinogen proven to cause liver tumors, lung tumors, and thyroid tumorsin rats and mice.
When The Center for Science in the Public Interest studied two different brands of soda earlier this year, they found that both had dangerous levels of caramel coloring and could be contributing to thousands of cancers in the US. This prompted Coke and Pepsi to quickly change their formulas so they didn't have to include the cancer warning label on their products in California.
I wonder what level of carcinogenic compounds a Frappuccino has, don't you? Maybe someone should test it. I think it should be removed altogether from the FDA's approved list of additives considering this substance is only added for cosmetic reasons and serves no real purpose!
Frappuccinos aren't the only products at Starbucks that contain caramel coloring, the "Perfect" Oatmeal even has it! This is alarming to say the least, considering the oatmeal is one of the most popular and "safer" sounding menu items at Starbucks.
To quote Starbucks, "The most important meal of the day is the first. So why not make it nutritious and delicious?" I'm not sure if consuming carcinogens first thing in the morning is really nutritious, are you?
Despite all these ways in which Starbucks can sabotage me, I still like to use their free internet. Many of the stores now carry bananas, organic dried fruit, and some quality granola bars without synthetic ingredients that I would buy if I needed a snack. I always read the label no matter what I am buying just to be sure.
My favorite treat to get at Starbucks is absolutely free. They will give a cup of hot water to anyone that asks. Since I always carry a few extra bags of organic tea with me, I know I can always have a healthy beverage on the go from Starbucks for free anytime I like. I also like to use this free hot water option to make my own quick cooking oatmeal without carcinogenic caramel coloring!
But if you aren't a tea drinker and are still clamoring for a Frappuccino, but don't want to consume harmful ingredients...I've got a couple of recipes for you! Try my Homemade Organic Frappuccino with no refined sugars, artificial colors, flavors or carcinogens today or try Lisa's Maple Mocha. Both of these recipes are so easy to make, you'll never have to worry about getting sabotaged at Starbucks again.
Comments have been closed on this article, which was written by Vani Hari. If you have a question or comment you can reach her at http://FoodBabe.com.
AC says
I think a lot of the information used in this post, while factual is misleading. You use a lot of scary words to describe foods that many of us eat every day. Comparing starbucks refreshers to McDonalds is just silly. I think it's great to eat as naturally as possible but I don't think a croissant and latte is going to cause any more damage to your insides as this article causes damage to my brain cell count.
marisa says
Nutritionally a Starbucks refreshers is a lot like a McDonald's berry tea or anything else. Neither is organic, both contain high fructose corn syrup, fruit purees, and "natural flavoring" (this can be anything from 1 ingredient to 100 and usually is bad for you, possibly even carcinogenic). Also they are both artificially colored.
AMc says
I am a big proponent of whole, organic, non-GMO foods, and healthy eating in general. I make what I can at home from fresh ingredients and definitely don't go to fast food restaurants. I admire your efforts and your desire to educate readers about healthy eating. I am curious to know why you focused on Starbucks. Are their practices much different than those of Coffee Bean, Pete's, Seattle's Best and other similar chains? How is a cup of Starbucks coffee with soy milk and a muffin different from a cup of coffee one would brew at home using a generic brand (not organic) coffee, and a muffin purchased at a major grocery store? I like what you do, but don't get the focus on a specific company, when so much of our food is laced with pesticides, GMOs and over-processed ingredients.
CK says
Starbucks is probably the largest coffee shop chain, right? And their advertising leads you to believe that they are seeking organic, natural products, fair trade and sustainable practices...I was disappointed to learn two years ago that they don't sell organic coffee in their stores! I mean come on, Howard Schultz is presenting SB as this "all natural", "green/forward thinking" type of company...so many people are customers of SB it makes sense to call attention to some of the food and drinks they sell that have been marketed as "healthy" or at least "all natural". Slick marketing has fooled many people apparently.
AMc says
I get that. I would hope that educated consumers look beyond marketing, and think about what they buy from a giant corporation like Starbucks. I used to go there all the time, and still stop for a latte occasionally, and even buy their pastries once in a while. But I am fully aware that a butter croissant, even if they use organic butter, will add nothing nutritionally positive to my diet. It's a treat. All their pastries scream white flour and refined sugar, I can tell just looking at them in the store. I don't need a detailed analysis to recognize "bad" foods. People who care, I would imagine, are like me.
I am glad you are educating the naive consumer. I just think running to Coffee Bean instead (which some people might do) won't solve a thing. I think the lesson is do your own research and make educated decisions. But I am not sure that's really coming across from the blog post.
I am enjoying the rest of the web site!
Rachel says
Thank you so much for this report. I have committed to feeding myself and family healthier food since the beginning of the year. I have learned so much from this blog and I am truly grateful for it. I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't be able to change every aspect of our diet right away so we have followed a new real food rule every 2-3 weeks. For the most part our diet is real, with a few exceptions. I occasionally step out of the real food plan to treat myself with something like Starbucks. Some of the comments on here have not only "bashed" Food Babe, but also consumers who should know better than to consume Starbucks in the first place. I'd just like to offer a different perspective. Having been overweight most of my life, I have viewed food from the position of whether or not it was part of a diet or would cause me to gain weight. This was my only standard of whether or not something was healthy. Having discovered this blog, I now know that there is so much more to consider...and for the record I am not stupid, I am college educated, and have always looked at food labels. The information provided by Lisa and Food Babe has taught me that its not always about fat and calories. I know that Starbucks is fattening but I believed that indulging occasionally was ok. Now that I know there are many other harmful substances to be concerned about I will choose to avoid it. You never know who will come across the information that is provided here, what they already know or don't know, or how they will choose to apply it. I, for one am thankful that Food Babe continues to research and report despite those of you who judge her work. For some of us, it is life changing!
CK says
Well put and God bless your new body and healthy lifestyle!
JOANA says
I just have one thing to say... everything may be true... but in London the soya milk they use is def soya milk, they serve it in front of you and it's alpro soya ... don't know if there's anything wrong with that brand on the other hand
Sue O says
I chuckled when everyone put up such a fuss about the cochineal that Starbucks was using as a food colouring. It was probably the most innocuous thing at Starbucks, according to your list. I would rather ingest ground-up bugs than chemicals any day.
steve says
I keep my kitchen free of Hfcs, hydrogenated oils, and all sorts of processed junk, but for most people I don't think starbucks is much worse than what they have in their own homes. health conscious people usually have their wits about them and don't buy this kind of stuff, so why single out starbucks as some terrible place, and why not compare their stuff to things like yoohoo and everything else most people who don't care about things eat and drink. also I am not finding much on carrageenan, also it is not such a smart idea to be eating a lot of unfermented soy products either.
Lynn says
Food Babe - I don't think it's right for you to go to Starbucks to use their free wi-fi without ordering any of their food or drinks. Don't be a mooch! If you need free wi-fi, go to your local library instead of taking up space that an actual Starbucks customer could use.
Rebel says
Don't sit there freeloading off Starbucks free wifi, using your own "organic tea" but wasting Starbucks cups. I'm surprised you're not concerned with the amount of trees killed to produce those cups of free water you keep taking advantage of.
Michelle says
Some of this seems a bit unnecessarily alarmist, frankly. For example, criticizing the use of dextrose? You do realize that's just another word for glucose, right? Remember basic biology's foray into the Krebs Cycle? We run on glucose as our main source of energy, and it is a main building block for sugars. Too much isn't good, but nothing in excess is good for you.
You might run your information by an MD, RD, or other qualified professional before posting; it might highlight the most important things to be concerned about and what "food misdemeanors" customers can overlook.
Food Babe says
Actually I pointed out dextrose, because this is one of the most commonly genetically modified sugars out there. I avoid GMO's at all costs. We are one of the only nations that allow our crops to be grown in such a manner without labeling. That's why it's important to call it out.
Michelle says
While glucose can be of GMO origin, it isn't always. It would be interesting to confirm where Starbucks sources their glucose.
Food Babe says
There's a 90 percent chance, I highly doubt it's not GMO, but it would be great to find out. And also, the reason I mentioned it was because food companies use this ingredient, along with other refined sugar ingredients, so they don't have to list "sugar" as the number #1 ingredient in the product. In fact hiding the real amount of sugar.
Michelle says
Where did your 90% chance number come from? References?
The amount of sugar in a product is never hidden if one would only read the simple nutrition facts, listed on most products or on the websites for the companies you buy from.
Additionally, maybe I'm jaded, but I have no pity if somebody can't pick out what's good and bad by reading ingredients labels and nutrition facts. It's very simple to do and doesn't take much knowledge. Claiming that they're "hiding" the sugar by listing it as dextrose seems preposterous to me. More than likely, dextrose is just cheaper than sucrose, or has the right flavor (it's less sweet than sucrose) for a shelf-stable product (no matter, things that sit of shelves never taste good, in my opinion).
I don't really care for Starbucks myself, but I don't think this kind of sensationalized "reporting" is exactly on target, either.
Megan says
Thanks, Michelle. I totally agree with your comments. The tone of the article makes it harder for me to read.
Jenise says
It's not stealing if she's buying granola bars, etc. I rarely go to Starbucks because I don't like coffee, but I have had an egg salad sandwich there or scone, and I like their chai tea. I know it is mixed with a concentrate from the barista, but I have bought the tea bags from them before. I love their tea...do you know how it stacks up?
Danielle says
I actually think that if you have such an issue with them that you should not even be using their internet or hot water. I pretty much consider that stealing.
Lauren says
How can you consider something stolen if it was free in the first place?
SS says
I appreciate all the info. I will say that using their free wifi and using their water for your own tea is in poor taste. They provide these things to CUSTOMERS and if you cannot bring yourself to buy something then maybe you should relocate to a place that has food choices you can live with AND wifi. Don't trash Starbucks and then use them for free stuff. That is low class
Emma says
Hi Foodbabe,
Thanks for the great info. Sadly, it's not terribly surprising reading. But still interesting and I like how specific you've gotten.
One point to note, though. When it comes to the difference between organic and non-organic coffee beans (I work for an organic, 100% fair trade coffee company), the amount of actual pesticide residue you are ingesting is almost, if not completely, zero. Coffee processing and roasting is a vigorous process and so by the time the bean reaches the consumer, the bean has been completely rid (though intense heats) and rinsed (beforehand) of the pesticides used in the growing process.
That being said, you are spot on about the effect that pesticides have on the environment and the farmers and communities that grow conventional coffees. They wreak havoc for these peoples, which is why I try to buy as much organic as I can. But ingesting non-organic coffee is a very low risk move in terms of your own health here in the US- it is not the same as say, eating a non-organic apple or something along those lines where residues can cling to the product for longer.
Thanks again!
Jenn says
I am so shocked at some of the negative comments above. I never think "preachy" or "judgmental" when reading your posts - or responses! Some people love to complain. As a fellow real food blogger, I consider myself well-educated on these topics and quite a good researcher. But no one can research everything. I live in the real world and sometimes need a shortcut. I had considered some Starbucks offerings to be good compromise foods, but I didn't realize quite what a "compromise" they were. Thank you for your work. I'm happy to share this article and hope you'll keep up the good work. Ignore the haters.
Liz says
I really appreciate knowing more about the places I visit- thanks for doing the research! However, I was super put off by a paragraph at the end: "My favorite treat to get at Starbucks is absolutely free. They will give a cup of hot water to anyone that asks. Since I always carry a few extra bags of organic tea with me, I know I can always have a healthy beverage on the go from Starbucks for free anytime I like. I also like to use this free hot water option to make my own quick cooking oatmeal without carcinogenic caramel coloring!." I think it's a great idea to be eating more homemade food, but it's a little sketchy to park it in a restaurant, use their WiFi, ask for a free cup of water, and then bust out your own food.
laurie says
I saw someone made a comment about Chipolte - that is the one chain I'm curious about. If we eat fast food, it's always the veggie bowl at chipolte, and even then it's probably been 6 months since I've had one. But they do seem to "try" to use fresh ingredients. With two little kids, we eat real food, but I haven't had the time to look further into all of Chipolte's food practices (besides their marketing - which is geared towards real food). If you are taking suggestions for your next investigation, would love to hear the good/bad about them!
Amy says
Just a heads up on the "mocha sauce" there has been some debate over, you have the ingredients for the shelf stable version sold for home use. (http://www.starbucksstore.com/Fontana%E2%84%A2-Bittersweet-Chocolate-Mocha-Sauce/000998019,default,pd.html?start=3&cgid=syrups-and-sauces) Now not saying this isn't used in some SB stores but past experience working in a coffee shop and the previous employees comments leads me to believe it is not. I know when I was a barista, we sold a version similar to these, branded as our own, but mixed a different version (basically the cocoa and sugar mix that has been said) for use in store. Again, just a theory though... although either option is a ton of sugar any way you slice it :)
Meagan says
I knew some of the drawbacks to Starbucks, but still stop in for a soy green tea latte sometimes. The news about carrageenan in their soy milk, and probably even my soy milk at home, is quite a wake-up call! Thanks for that. I just wanted to add that while it's not a "food" issue, per se, you might want to be careful about the to-go paper cups when you're at Starbucks. They are often coated with Bisphenol A (BPA), which has just been banned from baby bottles by the FDA and can be of particular concern to women that want to breastfeed (since it will be passes through their milk). Scary stuff! I personally know it's hard to always do, but it's probably best to carry your own mug...
Christy says
It would appear that alot of the comments on this post are from people that are not familar with Food Babe's blog. This isn't the first company that she has "investigated". To me, she is just trying to deliver some information to her followers. I don't choose to believe everything that I read, but i do choose WHAT I read. If this upsets people then don't read it. I do personally research everything that I want to learn about so that I can be better educated. It cracks me up how many people have commented on her using free wi-fi and not purchasing anything. Who cares, it's free. The 5.50 coffees and fraps are what is paying for it. Thank you Food Babe and Lisa for your very informative blogs. I love reading them.
Steph says
Cups and wi-fi aren't free for the company. Restaurants have food & packaging costs and it also costs money to keep the lights on...so of course the restaurant is going to pass that along to the consumer. I think the problem people are having is the fact that she basically said using their wi-fi and getting cups of water is her way of getting them back for sabatoging her food.
Food Babe says
LOL - no that's not why I use their free wi-fi or get hot water. Like I said before - I buy things from Starbucks like organic snacks, bananas and Pellegrio.
Steph says
"Despite all these ways in which Starbucks can sabotage me, I still like to use their free internet. Many of the stores now carry bananas, organic dried fruit, and some quality granola bars without synthetic ingredients that I would buy if I needed a snack."
Sigh...ok. Good luck.
CK says
First, thanks for doing the work of compiling this information! It takes A LOT of time to do that (even referencing the other sources)! I have been on the organic food route going on almost two years since I was diagnosed with intestinal metaplasia in my gastric antrum (bottom of my stomach). It was a complete shock and wake up call! I do not want stomach cancer and gastro said no processed meats, nitrates, nitrites or anything grilled! My family and I have totally changed the way we live and consume food and have been blessed by it! We have lost weight, our health has improved and our family has grown closer!
I for one, am VERY GRATEFUL for your writing this post. I know so many people (including myself) that have bought the lie that Starbucks was seeking and providing healthy food and drinks! I have combed the internet searching on food and drinks plus their ingredients and what all those chemicals are??? It truly is scary how much of our food is low quality and downright dangerous. God has gifted us with each other and this planet...we really must discern about what we think, know and do! So, thank you for this important information and for sharing it! Keep doing what you're doing! It may save someone's life!!!
Shannon says
Thank you for taking the time to put this information together. I do have a question though about the coffee pesticides. How is it possible for Starbucks to be able to import and use coffee coated with pesticides that are banned here?
nancy says
I spent 2 weeks in Europe last month. The coffee there was wonderful and I felt great.
When I got back to the U.S.A. I drank a Starbucks and had a burning feeling in my stomach for days! Thanks for helping us press for change. Bigger/Faster is not always better... Sometimes the old ways are the best!
Tess says
Just wondering where you got your infomation about the only difference between the cool lime refresher and the very berry refresher is the lime and blackberries added to it???
Sarah says
Thank you for this post. I love being informed via your blog on real food and potential risks, alerts, etc. Keep up the good work! Do you have a good source that you have found for organic, fair trade coffee? I have experimented with a few, but find I get headaches from most organic coffees. No idea why...
Food Babe says
If you get headaches you could be sensitive to the diuretic effects of coffee. I would make sure you are well hydrated before consuming it. I love a local roaster called "Larry's Beans" they are out of Raleigh, NC and have great flavors and are 100% organic and fair-trade.
AB says
Thanks again for another great post! I love this blog and Food Babe's blog. The recipes and fast food/restaurant information is great.
Antoinette says
I have tried for years to keep my son's diet as healthy as possible. I take him for a treat to starbucks and get a green unsweetened tea for me, a horizon's organic milk for him and then one of their pops or cookies for him. In attempting to make our diet more 'real' I have ben following most of the 100days priciples and incorporating more all the time. That said, I have allowed our 'sometimes treats' to remain unexamined. Thanks for waking me up a bit more.
Jane says
I'm really sorry, but am I the only one who is starting to miss the posts that are just about eating good, whole food? These fast food posts are slowly turning the focus of the blog from whole food into an alarmist diatribe against fast food.
It's becoming a less useful tool in my daily eating and I find myself visiting less and less. Please go back to focusing on good food that your family eats.
Melanie says
Agreed!
Margaret says
Ack! Your post caused me to read the ingredients on my Silk Organice Unsweetened Soy Milk....sounds healthy, right? But yep, it contains carrageenan....something I didn't really know about until I read this post. Now that I know, I just can't drink it. Got any other ideas for "real foods" that reduce hot flashes?
Caithlinn says
Lady's mantle tea. If you don't have some in the garden, search for an organic tea supplier for herbal teas. You use leaves and stems, i.e. whole plant, 1 or 2 cups a day and hot flashes should be reduced.
Food Babe says
FYI - Eden Soy doesn't use carrageenan. Or better yet, switch to homemade nut milk, there is nothing like it!
Leah from Iowa says
From what I've read so far, you're just taking past posts and putting them into new ones. We may not be the most educated folks in the world, but my husband and I (everyone I know for that matter) know that Starbucks, McDonald's, Chipotle, etc isn't good for you. We always have.
This blog is geared towards people who are already making the change to real food, are already eating it, or who are curious. I understand you're trying to reach those not informed, but a lot of the time you come off as preachy and that turns a lot of people off.
Fast food kills. So do a lot of things. I say enjoy anything you eat.
As for the post...I don't ever buy anything at Starbucks because I'm not spending that kind of money on fillers and syrup. And usually it's not that good.
Food Babe says
I appreciate your opinion, but you knew Starbucks used caramel coloring in their "Perfect" oatmeal? I certainly did not before starting this investigation that took several hours to compile. Also - I am pretty sure people didn't realize that Starbucks is still using high fructose corn syrup in their Mocha Lattes, Hot Chocolate and Chocolate Smoothies. And you knew that the Organic Soy Milk that Starbucks uses had a potential carcinogen?
Anna says
Thanks Food babe! I go to starbucks often and get 1 of 3 items:
1) plain coffee
2) oatmeal
3) croissant (as a treat)
I could've guessed that the croissant had artificial ingredients, but I always felt good about getting a coffee and oatmeal. Now that I know what's in the coffee and oatmeal, I probably won't be going there. (Sorry Starbucks). I'm dissapointed to know that Starbucks has such a loose interpretation of "food" and "drink". Thankjs for doing the research!
Reanna says
I appreciate the footwork Lisa does as far as collecting information re: real food, organic v. traditional, literature to read, etc. I appreciate her guest bloggers as well. I think maybe what the lady above meant was that most people realize most of the stuff we eat is not necessarily in our best interests but that it is placiated with "ignorance is bliss". Once the information is put out there in a simple and easy to digest format, that ignorance is shattered and one is left with knowledge that was not necessarily wanted. It is very human nature to want to plug our ears and bury our heads in the sand when confronted with facts that challenge our pre-conceived and often very old schemas of just about anything.
This site and the guests it hosts more often than not turn people's food worlds on their heads. For some, that's hard to handle, for others it's like an "oh poo - well that's about disgusting and not going into my body anymore."
I think the information is fabulous, but then again I must know everything about everything - I love being critical and analytical in just about everything I do. I don't take much for granted and certainly not many things at face value. A wise woman once told me change of behavior, habits, perception, etc. is possible but it's usually super hard work and most people don't want to take on the challenge. I'm all over self-improvment (but not in some crazy Amway convention type of way!!!).
As far as Starbucks, it's a treat about once every six months or more, usually with friends. I make my own coffee and that does the trick just fine. :)
Thanks for the time you spend putting out the information!
R
Laura says
I did not know about all the information in this blog. I appreciate the attention to detail as I am new to the All natural world! Please continue to educate us newbies!!
Colleen Grossner says
Hi Vani and Lisa!
Thanks particularly the Refreshers details!! I searched and searched online because they were offering it FREE on Friday -- but I didn't email customer service -- you're an excellent researcher, and so thorough! Anyway, last Friday, I recommended them on my blog, ooops! The Refreshers description really appealed to me, fresh fruit, herbs, juice, green coffee extract, ....it was all a lie! What a disappointment!! Well, like you mentioned, Vani, the Peeled dried mangoes are awesome! With those and some green tea, you can feel refreshed, and a delicious smelling place to work! If you're now looking for non-Starbucks energy boost, I just posted this: http://fresh-you.blogspot.com/2012/07/eat-for-energy-grains-and-nuts-top-6.html ...Lisa, I really think we're on the same wavelength, posting similar topics! Thanks as always for the fabulous info and inspiration to keep getting healthier!!
Laura Ann says
I'm curious about their chai concentrate. I know that at the coffee shop where I work (not Starbucks), we have organic chai concentrate that looks like a fairly good option as an occasional treat (it does have quite a bit of sugar).
Also, given the choice between Starbuck's regular milk and soy, which would be the better option?
Esther says
The tazo chai concentrate is available for purchase (or to look at the label) in every store, and it is the exact same package used to make the drinks.
gussie says
I can definitely appreciate the different perspectives that have been represented in the comments, and I thank everyone for sharing them. May I please share my thoughts?
When reading the article, it did not seem to be an "attack" on Starbucks ... you said yourself that you enjoy visiting there. It seemed to me more of a "just want to pass along some information for you to have in mind when you go there" type article. Am I wrong?
If that is the case, this article serves as a reminder and great example of how important it is to read labels and know what is in your food so that you can make informed decisions. If you still want that pastry or coffee, at least you know that it contains those chemicals etc when you place your order.
I'm sure you knew that there would be "backlash" when you wrote it, and I applaud you for hitting the post button. Thanks for the info!
CK says
Great perspective! I echo your sentiments.
Nikki speck says
I was blown away to read all this. Also, this morning looking at my labels I noticed many of my foods contain caramel color!!! Even my Annies homegrown cereal :(. Which I thought was supposed to be a "good choice". It says right on the box no artificial colors. What is up with that. I feel so lost with this new information :(
Lorri says
I have an issue I might potentially like to be addressed by the Food Babe. I love my Oikos Greek Yogurt which includes the Organic Stoneyfield Oikos. My problem is that I am only able to find the plain in fat free. I have contacted the company and they said their was no palmitate in it. I am assuming that while they don't add it, it could still be in the milk? Is there anything else in my fat free yogurt that I don't want to be eating? Love your pieces!
Food Babe says
Hi Lorri - I suggest calling them directly and asking. I do not buy this product and have not researched it thoroughly. Good Luck!
Amy says
I'm not convinced that the banana chocolate smoothie contains HCFS... Unless it's in the mocha.. It doesn't use the Frap base.
Esther says
You're right! That smoothie has the mocha sauce (sugar, cocoa, and vanillin), milk, a banana, protein powder, and ice. No HFCS.
Food Babe says
I think you may be referring to another product Starbucks uses - maybe a powder that also goes in the drink? I triple confirmed with Starbucks customer service and the Chocolate Smoothie does use mocha sauce and does contain High Fructose Corn Syrup. Here's the full list of ingredients again - Corn Syrup, Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Sugar, Cocoa (processed with alkali 13%), Potassium Sorbate (preservative E202), Artificial Flavor
The other Mocha drinks use this sauce too, including the Hot Chocolate! Feel free to contact Starbucks directly for yourself, if you still have doubts - here's the number: 1- 800-782-7282
Esther says
Actually, today I made the mocha sauce in my store, and those are definitely not the ingredients listed. The frap base does have high fructose corn syrup, so if it was an ingredient list of a mocha frap, that might make more sense. The hot chocolate and chocolate banana smoothie, along with a plain old mocha, do not have high fructose corn syrup.
JESSICA S. says
Thanks for the article, it was a good read. I go to Starbucks every morning to work on an online class before going to work. I am majoring in Global Development at school right now and have done research on the global coffee and tea industries. I have even traveled to places in South America to study these industries firsthand. I choose Starbucks because of their Fair Trade Options, something not a lot of other coffee shops have in my area. I forfeit a little bit of my real food diet and healthy eating in order to support a specific player in an industry that can be very harmful to people on the other side of the world. I drink unsweetened coffee or tea with honey there every morning and I am able to feel good about this choice. Organic and pesticide free does not mean fair trade, please research all aspects of your morning cuppa :) Thanks for the read! And I agree, stay far away from the baked goods!
Kendramnelson says
Wow, amazing!! Im curious.. how did you find this all out? I work at Starbucks and i cant get my hands on the info you shared.
I love working for the company because of the flexible hours while Im in college, but Im going to school to be a dietitian/Biology with a minor in Physical therapy. And I swear a little bit of my heart dies every time I hand out a drink. People come there to get a bust of energy, some comfort or to make their day better not knowing (or trapped with no over option that they can figure out) that this is the last thing that will make their day better, and definitely not their life.
Jennifer says
Could you do a post on Boarshead deli meat? that would be great. Or just a post comparing brands of deli meat. Thanks!!!
Courtney says
Great Job Food Babe. Thank you for taking the time to research & share the FACTS, especially in your free time. I love the Tazo Passion Tea from Starbucks, unsweetened, & probably will continue to drink it even though it's not organic. I think that the most important message you share here is that we should really THINK about which companies we support & what we choose to put in our bodies...just like Lisa always says "Vote with your Dollars". Knowledge is power! It is important for all audiences, whether you agree with this Starbucks post or not,to realize that Food Babe shares this info with us because she wants us to all better our health & lives! Do your own research if you don't want to read Food Babes!
Andrea says
Um, that "beetle juice" you refer to has been used as a dye since Cortez conquered the Aztecs. It's in all KINDS of food; it's not a beetle, it's a scale insect, and I'd rather eat bugs than artificial dyes, but I see you hate those, too.
Starbucks isn't any worse than any other restaurant out there (or grocery store for that matter -- read the ingredients on Newman's Own salad dressings: canola oil is used even in the Olive Oil Vinaigrette.)
I kind of think your article is alarmist and not well researched. "Beetle juice"? Really? You could do better, but it won't be as sensational, will it.