In early 2013, this office wrote to Starbucks CEO Howard D. Schultz challenging the “Greek Yogurt,” claim made on various yogurt products sold at Starbucks in Massachusetts.
Authentic Greek yogurt has two main ingredients: milk and active yogurt cultures. It differs from ordinary yogurt in that most of the whey is strained out of it, producing an end result that is higher in protein, lower in fat, and has a thicker consistency than ordinary yogurt. Greek yogurt costs more than ordinary yogurt because it requires more milk and more work to make it, and has health benefits that make Greek yogurt more desirable than ordinary yogurt.
Before:
- Contains Whey Protein Concentrate
- Contains Pectin
- Calories: 300
- Protein: 8g
Starbucks’ previous “Greek Yogurt” version
After:
Whey Protein ConcentratePectin- Calories: 260
- Protein: 15g
Current Ingredients Label
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Current Lid Label — “15g of Protein”
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Starbucks has obviously changed the packaging and the product contained inside, despite Mr. Shultz’s lawyers dismissing the substance of the letter:
“no legal basis”
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The new version tastes better, has more protein, fewer calories, and costs the same.
