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Restaurant chain

Starbucks lab tests and lawsuits

By · Published · Last updated

Active class action over solvents found in decaf, plus Canadian copycat suits, a 2019 pesticide case and a 2026 sugar-labelling suit.

Lab findings
1
Cases
4
Open
3
Viral claims checked
3

Lab findings

TestedWho testedItemSubstanceResultSources
Jan 2025Eurofins, for the plaintiffsLawsuit claimDecaf House Blend Medium RoastSolvents (decaf)Methylene chloride 22 ppb, benzene 28 ppb, toluene 87 ppbResults come from the Williams complaint and have not been tested in court. Methylene chloride is a common decaffeination solvent; the FDA allows up to 10 ppm (10,000 ppb) in decaf coffee.[38]

Lawsuits and enforcement

Solvents (decaf) · Consumer class action

Starbucks

Williams v. StarbucksUS District Court, W.D. Washington2:26-cv-00112Filed 13 Jan 2026

Alleges Starbucks hid that its Decaf House Blend contains residues of methylene chloride, benzene and toluene, and that its "100% ethically sourced" claim is false. Proposed class: buyers in Washington and New York. Starbucks says the allegations are inaccurate.

Latest: Starbucks moved to dismiss; oral argument was set for 27 Oct 2026. No ruling reported yet.

Sources:[40] pacermonitor.com (opens in a new tab)[38] settlementinsight.com (opens in a new tab)[39] dailycoffeenews.com (opens in a new tab)

Open
  1. Filed
  2. Motion stage (current stage)
  3. Proceeding
  4. Closed

Solvents (decaf) · Consumer class action (Canada)

Starbucks Coffee Canada and Starbucks Corp.

Proposed class actions in BC and QuebecSupreme Court of British Columbia; Quebec Superior CourtFiled 2026

Repeat the US claims about decaf solvents and ethical sourcing for Canadian buyers. The BC case covers buyers outside Quebec.

Latest: Proposed only; not yet certified.

Sources:[38] settlementinsight.com (opens in a new tab)

Open
  1. Filed (current stage)
  2. Motion stage
  3. Proceeding
  4. Closed

Labelling (sugar) · Consumer class action

Starbucks

Walsh v. StarbucksUS District Court, SeattleFiled 2 Oct 2026

Alleges eight protein lattes and matcha drinks sold as "sugar-free" contain 13 to 21 g of sugar per venti, from milk lactose. This is the recent matcha issue; it concerns labelling, not contamination. Starbucks says the claims have no merit.

Latest: Just filed.

Sources:[61] nbcconnecticut.com (opens in a new tab)[38] settlementinsight.com (opens in a new tab)

Open
  1. Filed (current stage)
  2. Motion stage
  3. Proceeding
  4. Closed

Pesticide (DDVP) · Personal injury and consumer class action

Starbucks

Fox v. Starbucks and customer suitUS District Court, S.D.N.Y.; NY Supreme Court (customers)1:19-cv-04650Filed 21 May 2019

Pest-control contractors, a former employee and customers alleged Manhattan stores used Hot Shot No-Pest Strips, which release the pesticide DDVP, near food for about three years. Starbucks said the strips broke company policy and an outside expert found no risk.

Latest: In 2020 the federal judge let the contractors' claims proceed and dismissed the employee's distress claim. Later outcome not verified.

Sources:[41] nbcnews.com (opens in a new tab)[42] topclassactions.com (opens in a new tab)

Outcome not verified
  1. Filed
  2. Motion stage
  3. Proceeding (current stage)
  4. Closed

Viral claims about Starbucks

Not shown

“Starbucks coffee is full of pesticides and herbicides”

We found no published pesticide test of Starbucks coffee. The active lawsuit concerns solvent residues in one decaf blend. A 2025 test of 45 unnamed coffee brands found only trace glyphosate, though AMPA, a glyphosate breakdown product, was common.

Sources:[38] settlementinsight.com (opens in a new tab)[60] keyt.com (opens in a new tab)

Different issue

“Starbucks matcha has a contamination problem”

The 2026 lawsuit is about "sugar-free" matcha and protein lattes that contain 13 to 21 g of sugar. We found no published contaminant test of Starbucks matcha.

Sources:[61] nbcconnecticut.com (opens in a new tab)

Lawsuit claims are allegations until a court rules. Advocacy-group tests are reported as published, with their limits. General information, not legal or medical advice.

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