Category: Consumer news

In October 2024, Starbucks announced it would permanently scrap the surcharge for all non-dairy milk substitutes in its U.S. and Canada stores. This major policy shift followed years of customer requests, activism, and a global drop in sales. As of late 2024, ordering almond milk no longer costs extra at participating company-owned locations.

In June 2025, Starbucks rolled out a company-wide change to its customization pricing, which included adding a charge for extra scoops of matcha powder. For many customers, this raised the simple but significant question: why is Starbucks charging for extra matcha, and what prompted this shift?

In 2023, a class-action lawsuit filed against Crumbl Cookies alleged that the company grossly misrepresented the caloric content of its products by using deceptive serving sizes. The legal action sought to determine exactly how many calories are in the Crumbl cookie lawsuit claims and reveal the actual nutritional figures to consumers.

Following a series of customer complaints and lawsuits, both Dunkin' and Starbucks officially eliminated their non-dairy milk surcharges in late 2024 and early 2025, respectively. This major policy shift means customers no longer pay an extra fee for plant-based alternatives like oat, almond, or soy milk in their beverages.

As of November 7, 2024, Starbucks permanently eliminated the extra charge for non-dairy milk substitutions in company-owned stores across the U.S. and Canada. This major policy shift, announced after years of customer requests, means you no longer have to ask, “Does Starbucks charge for non-dairy creamer?” when ordering.

In May 2025, a popular online petition with thousands of signatures demanded the return of a specific milk option to Starbucks Canada. The reason is a recent, widespread company decision: Starbucks is no longer offering lactose free milk at many locations, sparking debate and frustration among customers with lactose intolerance.

In early 2025, the FDA issued a Class I recall, the highest risk level, for certain broccoli florets sold at Walmart. This led to consumer questions about whether their Great Value brand broccoli was also affected, but the recall specifically targeted Marketside branded broccoli and not Great Value.

Despite widespread viral rumors, Skittles are not banned in California; in fact, the popular candy was specifically exempted from the state's new food additive law, AB 418. The legislation, often misleadingly called the "Skittles ban," was signed into law in 2023 to prohibit four other food chemicals, not the ingredient found in Skittles.

In October 2024, Acme Smoked Fish Corp. recalled specific lots of Kirkland Signature smoked salmon sold at Costco stores in Florida due to potential *Listeria monocytogenes* contamination. This led to a significant health advisory, urging consumers to check if their Costco salmon products were part of this voluntary recall.

In October 2024, Costco's supplier, Acme Smoked Fish Corp., issued a voluntary recall on specific lots of Kirkland Signature Smoked Salmon due to potential contamination with the dangerous *Listeria monocytogenes* bacteria. This significant event raised concerns among members and highlighted ongoing questions about the quality and sourcing of Costco salmon products.