U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to spotlight concerns about the sugar content in popular beverages, particularly those offered by Dunkin’.
On March 4, in an X post, Kennedy questioned the safety of a drink containing a staggering 180 grams of sugar from Dunkin’. This statement followed a post by Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who had shared a photo on X featuring a Dunkin’ cup alongside the historic “Come and Take It” flag, harkening back to the Texas Revolution.
“No one is taking away your Dunkin’,” Kennedy remarked. “But isn’t it reasonable to ask if a drink packed with 180 grams of sugar is safe?”
Healey’s post came after an Eat Real Food Rally held in Austin, Texas, on February 26. During this event, Kennedy expressed his intentions to compel coffee chains like Dunkin’ and Starbucks to substantiate the safety of their ingredients.
“Show us the safety data that proves it’s safe for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee containing 115 grams of sugar,” Kennedy urged at the rally. “I doubt they will be able to provide it.”
Kennedy’s remarks regarding Dunkin’ and other coffee chains come in the wake of the announcement of new U.S. Dietary Guidelines in January, which advocate for increased protein intake, reduced sugar consumption, and fewer ultra-processed foods.
More: RFK Jr. questions sugary Dunkin’ drinks, draws governor’s defense
Do any Dunkin’ Drinks Contain 180 Grams of Sugar?
According to Dunkin’s nutritional guide, none of the drinks on their menu contains 180 grams of sugar.
The highest sugar content is found in a large Butter Pecan Swirl Frozen Coffee with skim milk and a large Caramel Creme Frozen Coffee, both of which contain 172 grams of sugar, as per the guide.
Kennedy’s post followed shortly after Dunkin’ had rolled out 48-ounce beverage buckets in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as reported by USA TODAY. Customers could choose from options like the Strawberry Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher, Blueberry Cobbler Iced Latte, or Caramel Coco Iced Coffee in these large containers.
Upon reaching out to Dunkin’ for clarification regarding the sugar content in the 48-ounce drinks, USA TODAY had not received an immediate response as of March 6. For reference, a large Strawberry Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher contains 72 grams of sugar, while a large Blueberry Cobbler Iced Latte has 50 grams of sugar, according to the brand’s nutritional guide. A standard large iced drink at Dunkin’ is 32 ounces.
Contributing: Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Melina Khan, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. To share a story idea, contact her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RFK Jr. questions Dunkin’ safety. How much sugar is in its drinks?
