Starbucks American Menu

This Starbucks American Menu Caramel Ribbon Crunch Crème Frappuccino® Blended Beverage earns a rating of 1/5 green leaves, the lowest on our scale, reflecting its poor standing as a cleaner food option. The product is not organic and does not use non-GMO ingredients, which immediately detracts from its potential score. The presence of added sugars further lowers its rating, with ingredients such as sugar and citric acid contributing to this deduction. More concerning are the additional harmful sweeteners like cane sugar and corn syrup, which are prevalent in this beverage.

The list of ingredients raises additional red flags due to the inclusion of potentially harmful additives. These include natural flavors, mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, sulfites, xanthan gum, and potassium sorbate. Each of these components contributes to the overall poor rating of the product. Moreover, the presence of carrageenan, a known harmful additive, significantly impacts the product’s score, underlining the health concerns associated with its consumption.

The drink is composed of a blend of ice, milk, and crème Frappuccino syrup, topped with whipped cream and various caramel sauces and sugars. These toppings and sauces are sources of the aforementioned added sugars and additives. The caramel sugar topping, which includes cane sugar and natural flavors, along with vegetable colors and other ingredients, also factors into the beverage’s low rating.

Given the ingredients listed, this Starbucks Frappuccino® falls short of meeting the criteria for a cleaner and healthier food option. The accumulation of non-organic ingredients, GMOs, added sugars, and harmful additives results in a product that is better avoided by those seeking healthier alternatives in their diet. This assessment is based on the ingredients and the standards set forth by our scoring system, emphasizing the importance of transparency and health consciousness in food choices.