| Much has been made of the new, "healthier," food we can expect soon from Starbucks. For example, The Atlantic says better Starbucks food can't come soon enough! Oh, how I agree with that statement. Bad food at Starbucks has long been a pet peeve of mine, particularly because my career has often forced me to forage my meals from airports and strip malls. Unlike the greasy looking fast food joints, Starbucks looks like a sophisticated cafe where you might find something reasonable to eat - except that's totally not the case. And I am not kidding when I say that the coffee cake literally makes me feel sick to my stomach when I eat it. Whatever's in that stuff, my tummy rejects it.
So what is this new, healthful food? Apples, carrots, and celery sticks? Not quite. According to Reuters:
On June 30, the world's top coffee chain will begin selling baked goods without high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors and dyes, and will introduce salads and other items.
Let me be clear - as Barack Obama would say - I am absolutely an advocate of getting artificial food dyes, preservatives, and HFCS out of our food supply. No doubt about that. But does that then make the food "healthful"? I was presented with that same question very, very often when I scooped gelato for customers at a Whole Foods bakery a few years back. "Is it healthy?" the customers would always ask. Well... it's made from real ingredients (a good thing), but that doesn't negate the fact that it's chock full of sugar, fat, and calories. Just because Whole Foods doesn't use artificial food dyes or preservatives doesn't mean you won't get fat if you eat too much at their bakery. I would know - I gained 20 lbs on the job!
So, nice job, Starbucks. What you are doing is commendable, but I have a hunch that the PR boost you'll get from this new and improved line of food will outweigh the health effects for your customers. |
