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Starbucks targeted over high-fat products (no banana mocha Frapp, no banana cream crunch bar)
REUTERS ^ | Fri Jun 16, 2006

Posted on 06/16/2006 6:41:22 PM PDT by Liz

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp. may be next on the target list of a consumer-health group that this week sued the operator of the KFC fried chicken restaurant chain for frying foods in oils high in harmful trans fat.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said it is planning to campaign against the global cafe chain because of the increased risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer associated with high-calorie, high-fat products it sells. And the possibility of legal action against Starbucks, similar to the case it is taking against KFC owner Yum Brands Inc., has not been ruled out, said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. "Regular consumers of Starbucks products could face Venti-sized health problems," Jacobson said, referring to Starbucks' use of the 'Venti' designation for 'large.'

The group is primarily funded by newsletter subscribers and individual donors. It has support in the campaign from the small IWW Starbucks Workers Union, which has members in three stores, all in New York. They would like Starbucks to list nutrition information -- which is currently available online and in store brochures -- on its menu boards. "Customers can ask for nutrition information, but when you're talking about a transparent business in a busy world, that's not enough," union organizer and Starbucks "barista" staff member Daniel Gross said in an interview. He said the company should use healthier shortenings without trans fat, and publicize its smallest size, "short," which is available but does not appear on the menu. Continued...

The union contends that Starbucks staff gain weight when they work at the chain. They are offered unlimited beverages and leftover pastries for free during their shifts.

A 20-ounce Venti banana mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream contains 720 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat, and a banana cream crunch bar weighs in at 630 calories and 25 grams of saturated fat. By comparison, a McDonald's Corp. Big Mac has 560 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat.

A Starbucks spokesman said in a statement it is "actively researching" alternatives to high-fat products. The company said it plans to eliminate trans fat from

seasonal baked goods -- but not necessarily other products -- by this fall. "In our beverage ingredients, we have reformulated any component that contained significant artificial trans fat content," the spokesman said. Wendy's International Inc. and Panera Bread Co. have recently announced efforts to reduce or eliminate trans fats from their menus. Trans fat is an artery-clogging solid fat found in partially hydrogenated oils.

"Most people are taking the trans fat out of their foods because they raise the risk of heart disease and obesity," said Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at NYU.

"There's a lot of pressure to do so, especially since the (KFC) lawsuit." Jacobson said Starbucks may have been spared the scrutiny fast-food chains received recently because of its health-conscious image. "People expect foods from Dunkin' Donuts to be unhealthy, but Starbucks has more of an upper middle class, healthy, hip, politically correct facade," Jacobson said. "But the food is just as harmful to your arteries." © Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; badfat; cspi; doomandgloom; foodpolice; geeksquad; healthypeople; healthypeople2010; liberals; michaeljacobsen; nannystate; obesity; sokaiya; starbucks; wereallgonnadie
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To: Gabz

Gabz, when you get here can you please put me on your nanny state ping list?

I detest these busy-body control freaks.


21 posted on 06/16/2006 7:02:38 PM PDT by kanawa (Freaking panty wetting, weakspined bliss-ninny socialist punks)
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To: Liz

Have these "people" ever heard of FREEDOM?


22 posted on 06/16/2006 7:03:19 PM PDT by Tolkien (Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.)
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To: Liz; Victoria Delsoul

I have no love for Starbucks, but I hate busybodies who are bent on stopping everyone else from having fun! :-)


23 posted on 06/16/2006 7:03:50 PM PDT by HitmanLV ("5 Minute Penalty for #40, Ann Theresa Calvello!" - RIP 1929-2006)
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To: Liz

Crud, I just had one of those banana crunch bars. It sucked. And it had a gazillion calories. Great.


24 posted on 06/16/2006 7:04:22 PM PDT by cammie
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To: cammie

and that's the point, you didn't know what was in it. if it had been posted that it had that many calories and 25g of fat, would you have bought it?


25 posted on 06/16/2006 7:05:54 PM PDT by oceanview
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To: Liz

As long as their at it, go after Ben & Jerry's. Fat Fat Fat.


26 posted on 06/16/2006 7:07:08 PM PDT by Pit1
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To: EBH

>>IT'S CALLED FREEDOM OF CHOICE!

Freedom of Choice

A victim of collision on the open sea
Nobody ever said that life was free
Sank, swam, go down with the ship
But use your freedom of choice

I’ll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Your freedom of choice

In ancient rome there was a poem
About a dog who found two bones
He picked at one
He licked the other
He went in circles
He dropped dead

Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice!

Then if you got it you don’t want it
Seems to be the rule of thumb
Don’t be tricked by what you see
You got two ways to go

I’ll say it again in the land of the free
Use your freedom of choice
Freedom of choice

Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom of choice!

In ancient rome
There was a poem
About a dog
Who found two bones
He picked at one
He licked the other
He went in circles
He dropped dead

Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want
Freedom of choice
Is what you got
Freedom from choice
Is what you want


27 posted on 06/16/2006 7:08:02 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: doug from upland
People don't have to go to Starbucks.

This is the workers union of the employees of Starbucks. Sort of like Starbucks is providing an unhealthy work environment!

28 posted on 06/16/2006 7:08:07 PM PDT by OmahaFields
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To: Liz

I MUST HAVE MY MOCHA FRAPPACHINO


29 posted on 06/16/2006 7:09:27 PM PDT by OldFriend (I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag.....and My Heart to the Soldier Who Protects It.)
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To: Liz

Please stop trying to protect me from myself if I want a darn hamburger let me if i want a bannana mocha with extra whip let me IF PEOPLE HAD SELF CONTROL for godsake I cant even order a hamburger at my job because the food police have ex out all foods this is really out of control


30 posted on 06/16/2006 7:10:45 PM PDT by proudCArepublican
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To: Liz

This is dangerous "junk science". Every diabetic knows its the breading and the buns killing people ~ NOT THE FAT!


31 posted on 06/16/2006 7:10:46 PM PDT by muawiyah (-)
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To: Liz; Just another Joe; CSM; lockjaw02; Publius6961; elkfersupper; nopardons; metesky; Mears; ...
As much as I dislike Starbucks - I HATE these people even more.....

The Center for Science in the Public Interest

OTOH, starbucks probably deserves it considering their support of those that support the Nanny State.

NANNY STATE PING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32 posted on 06/16/2006 7:13:13 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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To: SaveTheChief
Is it me or is there a serious deficiency of common sense and responsibility these days?

Why I believe the answer to that is...yes there is.

33 posted on 06/16/2006 7:15:23 PM PDT by Archon of the East ("universal executive power of the law of nature")
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To: oceanview

' ths issue is, how are you supposed to know if its not disclosed."

Over by the cream and sugar, are brochures " You, Starbucks and Nutrition " listing the nutritional contents of all their beverages and foods.
They break it down into size and options- fat free, soy, whipped cream or none, etc.
Plus, it's also available on their website.


34 posted on 06/16/2006 7:18:22 PM PDT by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: Liz
The group is primarily funded by newsletter subscribers and individual donors.

BULLCRAP.............the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds them.......and they tow the line that RWJF tells them to...........anti hospitality industry - PERIOD.

And BTW - they are also anti 2nd Amendment.

35 posted on 06/16/2006 7:18:28 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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To: Liz
A 20-ounce Venti banana mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream contains 720 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat, and a banana cream crunch bar weighs in at 630 calories and 25 grams of saturated fat. By comparison, a McDonald's Corp. Big Mac has 560 calories and 11 grams of saturated fat.

And they both are very good!

I'll spend my money on what I like as long as I am capable and enjoy it without others opinions as to what I like or can tolerate safely.

36 posted on 06/16/2006 7:20:24 PM PDT by EGPWS
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To: Liz

Michael, let me explain something to you. Most of us already kind of knew a lot of this stuff is unhealthy and we like it anyway. Bugger off.


37 posted on 06/16/2006 7:20:52 PM PDT by RichInOC (Life is short. Have dessert first.)
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To: kanawa

You're on the list as of now...........

I totally DESPISE busy bodies!!!!!!


38 posted on 06/16/2006 7:23:07 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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To: Gabz

I am just not a starbucks kind of guy.


39 posted on 06/16/2006 7:25:08 PM PDT by patton (What the heck just happened, here?)
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To: RichInOC

I agree with you that he and his kind need to bugger off - but they won't..........they truly believe they know better than the rest of us.


40 posted on 06/16/2006 7:26:09 PM PDT by Gabz (Proud to be a WalMartian --- beep)
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