A video claiming that Starbucks uses Ammonia and other harmful chemicals in their Pumpkin Spice Latte which is carcinogenic in nature and results in the death of many people from cancer who consume it. The person in this video is saying that Ammonia instead of natural foods like carrots and beets is used as an active ingredient in Pumpkin Spice Latte to give the drink an orange color.
However, Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false.
Sharing the video, a social media user wrote, “A known carcinogenic. Take responsibility for what you consume. It’s not going to be written on your cup next to your name but it’s in there! A known carcinogenic!!!!!!! Wake up!!!!!”
https://player.vimeo.com/video/1020415998
Fact Check-
We found that this post became viral after a food blogger ‘Food Babe’ mentioned in the blog that Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte does not contain actual pumpkin, instead they use a high dose of sugar, Monsanto milk which comes from the cows injected with growth hormones, pesticide residues, natural and artificial flavors, and preservatives and sulfites.
First, we searched for all the ingredients used by Starbucks in their Pumpkin Spice Latte. We found all the ingredients listed on their website. For Pumpkin spice Latte, the following ingredients are used.
- Milk
- Pumpkin spice sauce – This is prepared from sugar, condensed milk, pumpkin puree, contains 2% or less of fruit and vegetable juice for color, natural flavors, annatto, salt, potassium sorbate
- Brewed Espresso
- Whipped cream – This is prepared from cream, mono and diglycerides, carrageenan
- Vanilla Syrup – Made using sugar, water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, citric acid
- Pumpkin Sauce Topping – Made from cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves
We did not find Ammonia on the ingredient’s list. Ammonia is not used in Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte either for color, texture or taste.
Apart from this, Starbucks also provided information about the ingredients of pumpkin spice syrup which they use to prepare Pumpkin Spice Latte. The ingredients of the pumpkin spice syrup are granulated sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and pumpkin puree. They use cheesecloth and saucepan to prepare this spice syrup.
For the caramel syrup, they use brown sugar, butter, half and half and salt.
According to a report, initially Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte did not have any real pumpkin in it. But in 2015, the company reformulated the drink and started using real pumpkin in the Pumpkin Spice Latte.
The post also claimed that Starbucks uses Caramel Color (Class IV) to give an orange color to the Pumpkin Spice Latte which is carcinogenic in nature.
The Caramel Color Class (IV) is also known as Ammonium Sulphate or sulfite ammonia. We found that the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) studied the safety of Ammonium Sulphate. After reviewing the data, they set a new guideline for how much of these colors people can safely consume each day. They also found that this caramel color is neither genotoxic, nor carcinogenic and also they do not have adverse effects on human reproduction. The organization also suggested that the quantity of these colors should be kept as low as possible.
Ammonium Sulphate is also approved as a food additive by FDA. It is also used as dough strengthener, firming agent, flavor enhancer, flavoring agent, flour treating agent, fermenting aid, and as color additive.
Conclusion:
Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. Starbucks is not using ammonia in the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is using pumpkin syrup. The Caramel Color Class (IV) also known as Ammonium Sulphate mentioned in the post has been approved as a food additive by international food safety organizations like FDA and EFSA.
Title:Is Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte carcinogenic because of the presence of Ammonia?
Fact Check By: Siddharth SahuResult: False
