Kosher customers are being advised to skip Starbucks after the coffee giant decided to end the expanded Star-K kosher information program. Many drinks that were previously approved by Star-K have been taken off the list, leading to many angry customers, one of whom started an online petition that’s received nearly 10,000 signatures.
How did coffee that was once kosher suddenly become non-kosher? Well, like everything about Kashrut, the rules are complicated and can be rather confusing. Unflavored coffee and tea are kosher and don’t require special labeling. The conflict comes from the non-kosher sandwiches that Starbucks sells. Some utensils and some equipment is co-mingled, creating a potential problem.
In the past, Starbucks was willing to work with Star-K so popular drinks like Frappuccinos and Caramel Macchiatos, along with flavor syrups and caramel sauce, could be enjoyed. By ending their program, none of those will be allowed. (Full list of approved and banned products can be found here.) Granted, the new rules affect only the strictest kosher practices, but the intent is what matters.
I find it rather ironic that a corporation who prides itself on sensitivity training and reaching out to various minority groups would voluntarily end their kosher information program. Starbucks has never been certified kosher, nor do they need to be, but why this change is happening now makes no sense at all.
Would I still drink their coffee? Possibly, but I don’t feel like they care about the Jewish community and that’s quite hurtful.
They promote homo-sexuality and trans-sexuality. They hate the Bible. Starbucks is for heathens.
I seriously doubt these issues are related. Totally different things.
Does Starbucks offer a halal menu? If they don’t and suddenly it was requested that they do so, how quick do you think that they would cave in? I think it would be pretty fast.
I don’t drink coffee nor do I agree with their politics so I only patronize Starbucks when I have a gift card (that I didn’t purchase) and buy smoothies for my kids. I prefer to spend my money at businesses who value me as a customer. Just my two cents. 🙂
Excellent point about a Halal menu. I hadn’t considered that. A quick google search shows that they don’t have Halal either. I wonder if anyone will complain about it soon? Starbucks seems to cater to certain groups that they approve of and definitely push an agenda. I like their drinks, but they’re over priced and definitely not the only game in town. There are 5 other coffee shops located less than a mile from my local Starbucks. I’d rather go somewhere else now. It’s just not right how they’re treating people.
Why are they so short sited?