Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. challenged Starbucks to provide evidence that consuming drinks with up to 115 grams of sugar per serving is safe for teenage girls. His advocacy efforts aim to tighten oversight of self-certified ingredients under the longstanding GRAS system by closing what he describes as a loophole.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey countered the challenge with a social media post featuring a silhouette of a coffee cup beneath a “Come and Take It” slogan, signaling support for the Massachusetts-based coffee chain and rejecting calls for additional scrutiny.

The public dispute raises the prospect of heightened regulatory attention on Starbucks' high-sugar beverages and could influence consumer perceptions of its product offerings, potentially prompting reformulation efforts or labeling changes to address nutritional concerns.