Kennedy Discusses Healthy Menu Options with Starbucks CEO

Earlier this week, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol to discuss the food industry and menu improvements.

During the meeting in Washington, D.C., Kennedy mentioned that Niccol committed to enhancing Starbucks’ offerings further. According to Kennedy, Niccol stated, “I have pledged to make the menu even more maha.”

“A diverse menu of high-quality food and drinks empowers customers to make informed nutrition choices.”

Kennedy praised Starbucks for its efforts in incorporating natural ingredients into their menu, noting the absence of artificial dyes, flavors, and high fructose corn syrup in their products. He expressed this in a post on X, stating how nice it was to see such commitments from a major brand.

Starbucks has confirmed that the meeting between Kennedy and Niccol was indeed fruitful. In their official statement, they reiterated their dedication to offering transparency regarding ingredients and nutritional content while ensuring the exclusion of certain additives.

Recently, Kennedy has been vocal about the dangers of artificial additives in food and beverages, especially synthetic colorants. His department, along with the FDA, is reportedly working on phasing out petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the American food supply.

In addition to these discussions, Starbucks has implemented several health-focused changes recently. Last November, they announced the removal of extra charges for non-dairy alternatives and later allowed customers to customize the sweetness of their matcha drinks.

Just this month, Starbucks began testing cold protein additions, inspired by customers who mixed protein powder into their drinks. Niccol mentioned that they are quite close to making this a reality, perhaps just months away.