Class Action Claims Starbucks Bagel Misrepresented as Made With ‘Sprouted Grain’

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A proposed class action alleges Starbucks’ “Sprouted Grain” bagel is deceptively named since the product is made primarily with traditional, non-sprouted grains.

The 25-page lawsuit claims that consumers relying on Starbucks’ advertising and naming of its sprouted grain bagel reasonably expect that its main ingredient is sourced from sprouted grains. Unbeknownst to consumers, the sprouted grain bagel is made predominately with processed white flour, a traditional grain that pales in comparison with the “more premium and desirable” advertised ingredient, the case contends.

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According to the suit, grains that have undergone the sprouting process have less starch and a lower carb count, are easier to digest, and have a lower glycemic index than traditional grains. The complaint further explains that sprouted grains contain more “key nutrients,” including protein, fiber and vitamins.

“In contrast, processed white flour, which is what Starbucks primarily uses in the Product, is stripped of its nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins and minerals, and therefore has little nutritional value,” the case says. “As such, consumers value sprouted grains over traditional non-sprouted grains.”

Per the suit, Starbucks has misrepresented the primary ingredient of its bagel in order to boost sales and increase profits.

The complaint argues that consumers would reasonably believe Starbucks’ bagel is made with sprouted grain as the sole, or at least primary, source of grain since several other brands, such as Silver Hills, Alvarado St. Bakery, and Franz, sell sprouted grain bagel products that contain sprouted whole wheat as the first ingredient.

The plaintiffs, California and New York consumers, say that they would have paid significantly less for the bagel, or would not have purchased the product at all, had Starbucks not falsely labeled the food as “sprouted grain.” 

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone in the United States who purchased Starbucks’ sprouted grain bagel during the applicable statute of limitations period.

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