Starbucks On The Run

[JDW]

OK, so it's probably not the greatest but occasionally with toting kids all over the place, I find myself hungry and I'm without food. So, I figured a Starbucks latte is mostly 2% milk with a couple shots of espresso. Aside from not having any fruit (I suppose I could buy one if their apples, too) I figured this would be a good idea. Then I checked on the ingredient list for their vanilla syrup:

SUGAR, WATER, NATURAL FLAVORS, PRESERVATIVE: POTASSIM SORBATE (E202), CITRIC ACID (E330), COLOR: CARAMEL (E150d).

Any thoughts? I know Coca-Cola has carmel color, so I assume that's OK. But, should I be super worried about the "natural flavors" and the other two ingredients? I've heard vanilla is OK and I've heard vanilla is bad. Did I just drink my last vanilla latte or can I have them as a treat once in a while?

 

[kettlebell]

I had a starbucks yesterday - Double Espresso, 5 sugars, wallop.

That preservative doesnt look nice. Not sure about the citric acid. The caramel is ok (Same one in coca cola in the uk)

 

[jaketthomas]

It's always safest to go with sugar packets, over flavored syrups and fancy stuff. I'm a big Starbucks fan, and while I appreciate the fancy-schmancy drinks they have, I'm good for a tall regular coffee, light and sweet. Then of course, make sure to walk around arrogantly drinking it, showing people I shop at Starbucks. :)

 

[OrangeJuiceManiac]

i wonder if the water is fluoridated or they filter it.....

 

[jyb]

What I dislike with these chains is when the hot coffee is served in these plastic cups. Especially when heated these plastics leach chemicals known to be endocrine disruptors.

 

[jaketthomas]

I have a friend who is a pro baseball player, and he was tweeting about Starbucks and how happy he was that they came out with their reusable cup. I sent him a whole bunch of data about how bad it is to drink coffee out of plastic, and he ended up telling his whole team about it.

 

[pboy]

The sad thing is almost all coffee people consume in American is from fluoridated water, decanted in a plastic reservoir, not organic, and served hot in a plastic cup.
That's like a cocktail of endocrine disruptors. If it wasn't for coffees inherent robust nature and beneficial compounds and the fact that its a filtered beverage I think the consequence would be even worse. Go with a glass French Press, they're just as easy and quick and easy to clean. I dunno what Starbucks uses but at least you can use a non plastic cup to avoid a good portion of the disruptors.

 

[jaketthomas]

Totally right. People don't seem to understand that conventional coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed foods we put into our bodies. All pesticides are estrogenic, and non-organic coffee is loaded with them. I always choose organic, shade-grown coffee, when I make coffee at home. Coffee, when it's grown in the shade like it should be, doesn't require pesticide use, because it's a strong crop.

 

[judi]

(from an email exchange in 2011)

Organic coffee is preferable (in the coffee orchards I have seen no pesticides were needed), but the roasting process probably eliminates any added chemicals.

I'm still skeptical though.

 

[Jenn]

Potassium sorbate is an avoid. Citric acid is an avoid too if you have cancer. I don't know why, I forgot to ask.
That said, fueling the body is important, so sometimes you do what you can. Natural flavor is an msg equivalent.

 

[Austin]

Totally right. People don't seem to understand that conventional coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed foods we put into our bodies. All pesticides are estrogenic, and non-organic coffee is loaded with them. I always choose organic, shade-grown coffee, when I make coffee at home. Coffee, when it's grown in the shade like it should be, doesn't require pesticide use, because it's a strong crop.

Great info Jake, thanks. May I ask what brand of coffee you drink?

 

[TreasureVibe]

Potassium sorbate is an avoid. Citric acid is an avoid too if you have cancer. I don't know why, I forgot to ask.
That said, fueling the body is important, so sometimes you do what you can. Natural flavor is an msg equivalent.

Why is potassium sorbate an avoid?