SAUSALITO, CA - JULY 09: A new flat plastic lid that does not need a straw is shown on a cup of Starbucks iced tea on July 9, 2018 in Sausalito, California. Starbucks announced today that it plans on phasing out all plastic straws from its 28,000 stores worldwide by 2020. Some of its drinnk cups will be fitted with special flat plastic lids that can be used without straws. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Starbucks is being sued by a customer asking the beverage chain, where’s the fruit in the ‘fruity’ refreshers?
The lightly caffeinated fruit drinks that many customers enjoy as a coffee replacement are missing a key ingredient: the fruit for which they are named, according to a recent lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan.
The NY Post reports that the drinks — described for their flavors including Mango, Dragonfruit Lemonade, Strawberry Acai Lemonade, and Pineapple Passionfruit Lemonade contain mostly sugar, according to a complaint filed on behalf of Joan Kominis. Reportedly, the pricey beverages include freeze-dried pieces of strawberries, pineapple, and dragonfruit inside them, “furthering the deceptive nature of Starbucks’ advertising,” the suit states.
The so-called fruity refreshers are “predominantly made with water, grape juice concentrate and sugar,” according to the complaint, which is seeking class-action status.
Kominis says at $4.45 each in New York City, consumers are charged a “premium” for Starbucks’ false advertising, the complaint said.
A Starbucks spokesperson has spoken about the lawsuit in a statement from The Post. The rep said the company was aware of the case.
“The allegations in the complaint are inaccurate and without merit. We look forward to defending ourselves against these claims,” Megan Adams told The Post.
This isn’t the first lawsuit of this kind that the java giant has faced. In 2016, a complaint accused the chain of using too much ice in its cold drinks, The Post reported. The company was also sued in California in 2020 for “short-changing’ patrons. A 2021 suit claimed Starbucks’ drinks were too piping hot.
All of the complaints were eventually dismissed.
