Starbucks is now using a silica-based blending powder, which has a tendency to become airborne and easily inhaled.
After hearing about health concerns, we asked baristas if they have felt sick since the ingredient's launch.
Our union received hundreds of responses.
Scroll for just a few...
"we've all had bad headaches my shift lead and manager both went home over it yesterday and today, l've also had TERRIBLE headaches like a brick inside my head that won't stop"
"i was having trouble breathing randomly during my last two shifts"
"Ever since we got that powder I'd been sneezing, have a bad stuffy nose, itchy/swollen throat..."
"i knew i wasn't trippin when i breathed it in and my stomach started hurting as well as my chest..."
"OMG I WAS FEELING KINDA SICK TODAY AFTER A SHIFT FROM YESTERDAY AND YES MY LUNGS AND THROAT KINDA FELT ITCHYY AND I BE SNIFFIN"
“I literally got a migraine for the first time in years after work"
"I almost passed out after making one of those drinks and the headache came on immediately after I scooped that powder into the blender"
"Me with nonstop coughing fits every shift since the powder dropped🧍♀️”
"i've had headaches both my last shifts which i never have"
"you inhale those powders everytime you scoop them. Especially when they're on a raised shelf at eye level... but corporate never seems to listen or care 🫠”
"i have asthma and i have noticed that ever since i have started crafting the blended beverages with the blending powder, my chest has been hurting so badly and i have had to take my inhaler more than normal."
"I have asthma and it does make it harder to breathe:/ had to take my inhaler today"
"oh my god my fucking asthma has been AWFULLLL"
"Legit went to the doctors yesterday and was prescribed an inhaler"
"Yes I have very nauseous and it was right after l inhaled that powder, we were restocking and it just goes in the air it's literally unavoidable"
"Omg a partner today was telling me his hand started to tingle after he spilled some on his hand!!!"
"Ive been getting weird hives from it like bumps and rashes"
"No but lowkey since yesterdays launch I've been getting these rashes"
"Omg one of my co workers also got a rash!
"my coworker got off bar with hives"
"eyes have been SUPER irritated, red and itchy since launch day, even worse today after working cold bar this morning."
"Had a barista leave shift looking pale and sweating and they worked in the morning peak making those a lot."
*our lawyers want you to know that while these comments surrounding Starbucks' blending powder were posted publicly, SWU cannot verify their accuracy.
Ashamed somehow that I still don't have a book deal despite all this effort. Whatever! It's like Annie Dillard said anywayyyyyy no one cares about your effort! But now I do have this cool opportunity AND it's funded and I'm stoked!
"Not dating or having sex isn't even a source of discrimination in real life-" How many rights and benefits are tied up in marriage contracts though? How much of our economic and societal structure is built with the clear expectation that people couple up and support each other? Where's the security nets and affordable options for people who will never have a partner/spouse to take care of them? How many people save serious commitment only for people they have a romantic and sexual relationship with? How many people will unquestionably prioritize their sexual and romantic relationship above all other social connections in their lives? And where does that leave the people who don't want that at all, ever?
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