n mid-July 2026, Starbucks rolled out a new “blending powder” for its frozen and blended drinks, like Blended Refreshers. Made with gum arabic, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, natural flavor, silica, and stevia extract, the powder works as an emulsifier and stabilizer to give drinks a smoother texture and keep them from separating too quickly.
Baristas and groups like Starbucks Workers United have voiced safety concerns about fine powder becoming airborne during routine scooping. Some employees report symptoms such as sore throats, coughing, chest irritation, headaches, and difficulty breathing after inhaling the dust while on shift. The powder contains food-grade amorphous silica, an anti-caking agent safe to eat but criticized for potential risks from frequent workplace inhalation, prompting calls for better safety measures or masks.
In other words, it's 100% not needed and they should've never put this crap in the drinks.
You shouldn't be drinking something with so many calories anyway, but now you have another reason to stick to regular coffee and stop drinking that high-calorie big back garbage with blending powders no one ever asked for.
Disgusting stuff, Starbucks. Get rid of that junk.
▶ VIDEO
