Starbucks Passion

Starbucks’ new allergy friendly food and beverage choices

Starbucks has always been known for using the best and freshest ingredients in all their food and beverage offerings. They label their products and ingredients properly, allowing people with food allergies and/or intolerances understand what is in each product. Being lactose intolerant and having a mild intolerance to gluten, I’m always looking for new treats and drinks that accommodate my dietary needs. I’ve always wanted to eat the cookies and drink the Frappuccinos but haven’t had the chance because of my intolerances and allergies. That has since changed.

Recently Starbucks has added two new products that are not only delicious, but are also allergy friendly; Lucy’s cookies and the new however-you-want-it Frappuccinos.

Lucy’s Cookies

One of the best Starbucks bloggers, Starbucks Melody (starbucksmelody.com) wrote an exceptional blog post on the new cookies being offered at Starbucks. Melody examined Lucy’s cookies and provided an analysis of these tasty treats. It was only after reading her post on Lucy’s cookies, Once Again Exploring the Snack Aisle: Lucy’s Cinnamon Thin cookies, that I decided to try these crunchy treats. Thanks Mel!

I thought it was too good to be true that these cookies are lactose-free, gluten-free, nut-free and yet, still delicious. But it’s true! These treats are allergy friendly and delicious. And for someone like me, this is a good thing.

Lucy’s cookies come in the following flavours: sugar, cinnamon, oatmeal and chocolate chip. And yes, they are all equally delicious, dunkable (due to their crunchiness) and allergy friendly.

It seems that nowadays people and companies are recognizing gluten allergies and lactose intolerances. Food companies looking to ‘get ahead’ are now trying to offer a wide variety of products that accommodate such dietary needs. And with the introduction of Lucy’s cookies, Starbucks is staying ahead of the curve. They recognized the need for allergy friendly products and have allowed people like me the opportunity to enjoy tasty products that meet all dietary restrictions. They have adapted well and allowed people, who in the past could only enjoy a few products, the chance to try several more allergy friendly foods.

However-you-want-it Frappuccino

In the past, the old Frappuccinos were pre-made and the only specification you could make was the flavour.  You could choose Java Chip, Caramel, Coffee, etc. but you couldn’t choose the milk because the Frappuccinos were already pre-blended. These Frappuccinos were delicious but definitely not allergy friendly. (I could only have a quick sip before feeling nauseous.)

But recently, Starbucks has changed the entire Frappuccino model. Now, you can have this delicious, cold blended drink however-you-want-it. You can choose your milk (lactose free, soy, skim, etc.) You can add coffee shots, add toppings and/or reduce the calories. Simply put, this new Frappuccino can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of allergies and intolerances.

Starbucks has answered the concerns facing their old Frappuccino model. People wanted a healthier beverage (less calories), people wanted more toppings, stronger coffee flavour and a customizable milk option. The new however-you-want-it Frappuccino fulfills all these requests.

By providing more options in their Frappuccino products, all customers can now enjoy a cold blended beverage. Moreover, this new Frappuccino model strengthens the entire Starbucks brand because it shows that Starbucks has all its customers’ preferences, intolerance and allergies in mind.

Both these new products continue to move the company forward; reiterating the fact that “Starbucks is in the people business serving coffee, rather than the coffee business serving people” (Howard Schultz at the 2010 Annual Shareholders Meeting).