Starbucks Drops Drink Powder That Sickened Baristas

Starbucks has discontinued the use of a silica-based blending powder used in its Blended Energy Refreshers line after baristas nationwide reported coughing, headaches, hives, sore throats, and other symptoms they attributed to inhaling fine dust clouds created when scooping the ingredient. The company confirmed it has no plans to bring the powder back, according to Capital & Main.

The Product and the Complaints

Starbucks launched Blended Energy Refreshers on July 14, 2026, using the new powder as a binding agent and stabilizer to create a smooth, consistent texture in the frozen fruit drinks. The powder contains gum arabic, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, natural flavor, food-grade amorphous silica, and stevia extract, as detailed by Snopes.

Almost immediately, baristas began reporting health problems. Destiny Valencia, a barista in San Jose, California, told Capital & Main that the powder “kind of creates a smoke cloud” when scooped. “Any time I had to use it, I had to hold my breath,” she said. The fine powder became easily airborne, creating visible dust clouds that workers were forced to inhale.

Starbucks Workers United, which represents more than 12,000 baristas at over 700 stores, surveyed nearly 600 members about symptoms since the powder’s launch. Responses included reports of almost passing out, asthma flare-ups requiring more frequent inhaler use, and throat tightness. One anonymous barista reported, “I almost passed out after making one of those drinks and the headache came on immediately after I scooped that powder into the blender.”

Company Response and Expert Analysis

Starbucks initially defended the powder. In a July 27 statement, the company said it “contains a small amount of food grade silica, an FDA-approved ingredient commonly used in food products” and that it “does not contain crystalline silica and is safe for use in food.” The company maintained the powder was safe when used according to instructions, as reported by The Washington Times.

However, Dr. Peter Orris, an occupational medicine specialist at the University of Illinois, analyzed the powder’s ingredients at the union’s request and found that gum arabic, xanthan gum, and amorphous silica are all associated with respiratory issues when inhaled. “If you have asthma and if you are in fact sensitized to this material… then very low doses are going to cause you significant respiratory problems,” Orris said. He added that Starbucks “should have evaluated it with respect to its impact on human health prior to introducing it in a setting exposing both employees and customers to the aerosolized powder through both inhalation and skin deposition.”

Snopes noted that while the powder’s ingredients are FDA-approved for consumption, inhalation presents a different route of exposure. The fact-checker estimated that barista exposure to amorphous silica likely falls within NIOSH’s recommended limits but acknowledged that the body’s natural reaction to any foreign substance in the lungs is coughing.

Union Pressure and Removal

The powder’s removal came after weeks of mounting pressure. The union posted concerns on social media as early as July 15, and workers in California, Missouri, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania walked off the job during the August 15-16 Unicorn Frappuccino weekend to raise alarm about the powder. An OSHA complaint was also filed regarding the powder’s use at a Starbucks in Maryland.

Starbucks spokesperson Jaci Anderson said the blended refreshers had been removed in a regular seasonal menu transition, but the union disputed that characterization. “We know our collective action prompted the company to direct stores to remove the powder, but the risk of using this product remains, and we won’t stop calling for its permanent removal from every store,” said Jasmine Leli, a union organizer and barista from Buffalo, New York.

Broader Context: The Contract Fight

The powder controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a nearly five-year battle between Starbucks and its unionized workers. Since the organizing wave began in Buffalo in late 2021, over 700 stores have voted to unionize. The company has accumulated more than 550 unresolved unfair labor practice charges, the largest number in U.S. history, according to Labor Notes.

On August 25, Starbucks Workers United announced a nationwide boycott under the slogan “No contract? No coffee,” with the AFL-CIO signing on and the 25,000-strong Chicago Teachers Union voting to boycott the following day. The union is seeking a minimum $17 per hour starting wage, 4% annual raises, at least three workers in stores at all times, and stronger workplace safety protections, as Common Dreams reported.

What’s Next

While the powder’s removal represents a victory for the union, the broader contract fight continues. The union has said it will keep pushing for the powder’s permanent removal from every store and for stronger workplace safety protections, including the right to consult baristas before introducing new ingredients. As Jezebel noted, the episode raises questions about how corporations evaluate workplace safety before rolling out new products—and whether workers will have a seat at the table when those decisions are made.