Starbucks Workers United has formally requested detailed information from the company about a blending powder introduced in mid-July 2026 for its new "Blended Energy Refreshers" line. Several baristas have reported coughing, sore throats, and headaches, which they link to fine dust released when the powder is scooped into blenders during busy shifts.
The powder contains gum arabic, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, natural flavor, silicon dioxide (silica), and stevia extract. Silica already appears in other Starbucks drinks, such as the Blended Pink Drink, but there it's dissolved in a liquid base — the key difference with the new line is its dry, powdery form, which is far more likely to become airborne.
The union has sent the company an official request for information and demanded bargaining over the product's workplace effects, warning it will escalate to health and safety regulators if it doesn't receive a response within 14 days.
Source: Snopes