It’s important to keep consumers educated on nutritional information no matter what the food item in question is, but in some cases it becomes even more necessary. While consumers of candy or well-known “junk” foods may posses a basic knowledge of the high levels of fats and sugars in what they’re eating, this may not necessarily be the case for other products.
A new announcement from Starbucks shows that the popular coffee chain will be taking some initiative on this front by offering snack and coffee labels with descriptions of the calories each item contains.
The chain has done so voluntarily, according to Reuters, and will begin this program starting on June 25. Starbucks allegedly already allows customers to find out this information in other ways, such as online, and also claims to offer lower-calorie ingredients in its various locations, in order to comply with future requirements from the Food and Drug Administration.
However, one of the big concerns involved with food labels is the potential for inaccuracies, which are reportedly not regulated. “Hidden calories” can be a frightening proposition, especially when customers put their trust in the numbers listed on a menu or official website. Back in February, filmmaker Casey Neistat tested a Starbucks Frappucino as part of his “Calorie Detective” feature for the New York Times and found that it contained 22 more calories than listed, although the company attributed this to possible differences in specific circumstances when the drinks are made.
Other coffee companies can avoid eventual fines or condemnations by taking steps like this to verify the content of their products and report it accurately on coffee labels.
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