US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Starbucks Corp. Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol vowed to further align the company’s menu with the administration’s health goals.
The two men met Tuesday, Kennedy said in a post on X. Niccol “shared the company’s plans to further MAHA its menu,” the secretary wrote, using the acronym for the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign to lower sugar and remove artificial ingredients from the US food supply, among other changes.
Kennedy didn’t provide details in his post, but Niccol has said that the chain wants to expand in health and wellness as customers look to lower their sugar intake and get more from their beverages than just a caffeine hit.
In a statement, Starbucks reiterated its commitment to offerings that cater to healthy lifestyles.
“Our diverse menu of high-quality foods and beverages empowers customers to make informed nutritional decisions, with transparency on ingredients, calories and more,” a Starbucks spokesperson said.
The company said last week that it’s testing drinks such as a sugar-free vanilla latte topped with protein banana cold foam. The new drinks will have at least 15 grams of protein that will come from a powder. Diners will be able to add the protein, which is unsweetened, to any cold foam flavor.
Competitors such as fast-growing Dutch Bros Inc. have had success with coffee drinks with protein-infused milk, which particularly appeal to younger consumers.
Other recent moves include removing sugar from the company’s matcha powder, which lifted matcha sales 40% from the prior year, Niccol said on the company’s April 29 earnings call. Starbucks is undertaking a broader overhaul of its menu as part of Niccol’s plan to jolt sales after five straight quarters of declines. The Seattle-based chain also removed the upcharge for nondairy milk.
Kennedy said he was “pleased to learn that Starbucks’ food and beverages already avoid artificial dyes, artificial flavors, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and other additives.”
The company’s summer menu includes beverages such as a berry iced drink called Summer Skies, which has 26 grams of sugar in a 16-ounce serving. The American Heart Association recommends that men consume less than 36 grams of added sugar a day and women less than 25 grams.