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Vegans Protest Starbucks' Sale Of Dairy-Laden Pumpkin Lattes
Photo by Gen Wilburn on Flickr
Apparently we aren't the only ones pissed about the arrival of the pumpkin latte. Vegans around the country are currently petitioning Starbucks because the seasonal drink, which has gained a cult-like following since its introduction in 2003, actually contains dairy. And there's no real indicator of that fact when purchasing the drink.
Says the Change.org petition :
Many people are shocked to hear that the mix contains condensed milk because there's no way anyone would be able to tell walking into a store and placing an order. Employees don't even realize it has milk in it!
The drinks are also topped with a more-obvoius dallop of sweetened whipped cream. The standard drink is also made with steamed milk, which could deceive meat-free eaters into thinking that if they swap out the milk for soy or almond, they're keeping vegan.
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Starbucks says that vegans can order the Starbucks Via instant spiced latte, which doesn't contain any dairy, instead. But the 1,500 supporters want more, which might be hard to deliver on considering the texture and consistency of condensed milk.
All of this steamy controversy raised an interesting question for the folks over at The Consumerist. What other products does the coffee shop carry that vegans might not realize contain dairy?
Starbucks' response :
“Several other flavored sauces served in some of our drinks also contain dairy, including white chocolate and caramel,” the spokesman explained. If customers are in doubt, the best thing to do is ask a barista for a list of ingredients, he added.
Which goes back to the initial complaint that not all baristas know exactly what every single drink contains, meaning it's more important than ever to be a well-educated consumer.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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