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Sketchy. Never drink Starbucks, and never will, and now I'm glad for it.

Many franchise chains do provide full ingredient lists. Here is McDonalds', for instance.

http://www.mcdonalds.com/app_controller.nutrition.categories.ingredients.index.html

And here is the Panera Bread chain beverage ingredients, on their site. Click on the mango smoothie, for instance, and the pop-up will be detailed ingredients:
http://www.panerabread.com/menu/cafe/drinks.php

This open sharing of information feels far more customer friendly to me. What is Starbucks hiding, that Tier I CSR's cannot tell me if there is soy in the Chai? Surely someone else has asked.

Orange Julius is not quite as detailed, but they provide detail about additives that might contain allergens - so I can see that there is lecithin in the Coconut cream, that probably comes from soybeans. They also warn me that other beverages may end up containing with traces of these additives:
http://www.orangejulius.com/sec_nutrition_allergy.html

So, if Starbucks is worried that someone will take something out of context, or they will have liability exposure by listing ingredients, why not simply use similar disclaimer statements, that have undoubtedly been reviewed by many attorneys?

At a time when we are all asking where things come from, and looking at food miles and supply chains, it seems out-of-place, and gives the appearance that something is being hidden, for Starbucks to be so secretive.

From their website: at this address
http://www.starbucks.com/customer/faq_qanda.asp?name=nutrition
Where can I find allergen information?
For specific questions related to allergens please contact a customer care representative at 1-800-23LATTE. Due to potential cross contamination during distribution and sale, we cannot guarantee that allergens are not included in a product, even if they are not listed in the ingredient statement.

Ccbweb, that's the number I called, and the CSR could not give me allergen information without collecting personal data and "doing further research." She also said that information could not be given in writing and would not be posted to the website. I just find that very strange, and too risky for me.

This is supposed to be part of the new "healthy" product line. It should not be a difficult question for a major food chain: "Is there any soy-based ingredient in this product of yours?"

If I call, as Erin did, and they say "nope, no soy," and I find out later that the fiber powder is from soy, is the no-writing rule so that they can say, "We didn't tell her there was no soy." Or do they truly not know the sources of their food additives? Which one of those weasel-reasons is worse?

I hate sue happy people, but you could always threaten them w/ that idea...or take it to your local tv news agency that does consumer watch reports.

In terms of your health, the important part is the piece from Starbucks' website in which they note that they can't guarantee that there won't be cross contamination with something to which you are allergic.

The negative customer service call experiences are a separate issue, it seems to me. Not that it's not a problem, but the information you need is actually there. Doesn't seem worth the health risk for a cup of coffee or smoothie or what-have-you. As izatryt notes, if we have particular health considerations that are that sensitive, we need to handle things ourselves.

Oh Lord... don't even get me started on this topic.

I spent a full week trying to find out what KFC put in their green beans. From the corporate office, to the store managers at individual locations, I kept getting different answers, on the origins (canned, frozen, etc.) and the ingredients themselves. It was as if I was seeking the Holy Grail.

And when you ask such questions, you are often treated like your a spy trying to uncover government secrets.

I've gone thru it dozens of times now, with different companies, and I can tell you that having my wisdom teeth removed during oral surgery was less painful, and MUCH less frustrating.

@ matriarchy-- Yep, just phoned up the Seattle number (found online) and they didn't ask for my name or contact info. The Starbucks rep said the powders are gluten-free, but she couldn't pin down the exact ingredients or origins. (I heard a lot of typing in the background, then eventually: "we don't have that info at our disposal.") She concluded that the drink was soy-free without soy milk, but given the sneaky presence of soy inside health powders, as you point out, I wouldn't be too sure. She said another drink (with soy, gluten, nuts, anything) could easily be made in the same blender. Ay, I hope they wash those things!

@matriarchy - go to hungrygirl@hungry-girl.com for today's e-mail. They posted a review, complete with nutritional stats, for the latest Starbuck's beverage.