Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Food Safety,Our Blog on March 9, 2025
When the drinks debuted in early 2023, they were described by the coffee giant as “arabica coffee deliciously infused with Partanna cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.” The beverage lineup, an idea from former CEO Howard Schultz, had olive oil infused into Starbucks’ Caffe Latte, Iced Shaken Espresso and cold foam, and had received mixed reviews from customers. The question comes up concerning many coffee lovers; is drinking oil safe?
After the drinks dropped, some Starbucks customers claimed on social media that the drinks were causing them stomach issues. In March, an anonymous Starbucks worker posted on Reddit that “Half the team” tried the drinks ahead of its launch and “a few ended up… Needing to use the restroom, if ya know what I mean.”
Similar claims popped up on other platforms, like X, where one person wrote that Starbucks’ Oleato “is a legit laxative.”
On the other hand, there was one Redditor who said, “I tried all 3 and loved all of them. Had no problems whatsoever.”
“Castor oil has long been a cure for constipation. Oil of any kind can help stool move through the digestive tract, especially if you’ve been constipated for a while,” Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, told TODAY.com in 2023. “Olive oil can certainly have this effect too, especially if you’re drinking a venti or grande.”
Oleato’s departure comes after a few recent changes at Starbucks.
Starbucks cafes in China, Italy and Japan will continue to serve the Oleato drinks.
Olive oil is widely recognized for its health benefits.
While drinking olive may offer several potential health benefits, there are downsides to consider.
Olive oil is high in calories, containing 120 calories per tablespoon (15 ml).
Although the relationship between calorie intake and weight gain is complicated and depends on many factors, it’s well established that consuming more calories than you burn leads to weight gain.
Furthermore, a recent study found that increased MUFA intake also increased body weight, suggesting that olive oil could contribute to weight gain if consumed in excess.
For this reason, it’s important to control your calorie intake, regardless of the source of calories.
It’s important to consider the following when considering drinking olive oil:
Personally until more research is completed it may be a good idea to not consume olive oil unless it is through valid cooking purposes. For more information about food safety please keep an eye on Make Food Safe.