You know how Starbucks like to write your name on your drink, but never get it right?
Well, over in America, a Starbucks customer in St Augustine, Florida got a lot more than he bargained for.
According to reports, a customer (who wished to remain anonymous), ordered a large (16 oz) white chocolate mocha with syrup – and found ‘diabetes here I come’ printed on his drink when he went to collect it.
I spoke w/ a @Starbucks spokesperson and they told me they’re working with the customer who had a poor experience. pic.twitter.com/V7ddsIqwT8
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynANjax) April 9, 2016
The Starbucks customer told an Action News Jax reporter that the message was especially hurtful as his two sisters have type one diabetes, saying:
That first word just automatically brought the picture of both sisters in my head, and I was taken aback.
Presumably, the barista attributed the label to the customer as the drink (Starbucks white chocolate mocha with syrup) has around 450 calories and 78g of carbohydrate.
What the barista may not have known is that type 1 diabetes isn’t caused by too much sugar. The barista was referring to type 2 diabetes. Although the barista expresses some truth in that sugar intake is an important risk factor for obesity and type 2 diabetes, what the barista may not have known is that type 2 diabetes can also be caused by stress, lack of exercise and genetic predisposition.
Starbucks issued a statement, saying:
We strive to provide an inclusive and positive experience for our customers, and we’re disappointed to learn of this incident.
We are working directly with the customer to apologise for his experience, and with our partners (employees) to ensure this does not happen again.
According to reports, the customer did not seek an apology. The customer wrote ‘2 of my sisters are diabetic… so not funny‘ on the label.
The story comes just weeks after Action on Sugar highlighted a number of coffee chains were serving “dangerously” high amounts of sugar in hot drinks. It also acts as an abrupt reminder that far more needs to be done about diabetes awareness – and just tolerance in general.
On the forum:
