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Starbucks Discontinues Controversial Drink

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.

Is Drinking Oil Safe?

Olive oil is widely recognized for its health benefits.

It boasts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and may even help protect against certain chronic diseases. While it’s commonly used as a cooking and dipping oil, some people believe that drinking it will allow you to reap its maximum benefits.

While drinking olive may offer several potential health benefits, there are downsides to consider.

High in calories and may cause weight gain

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.

Other considerations

It’s important to consider the following when considering drinking olive oil:

Provides more benefits when consumed with food. For example, consuming olive oil with tomato products significantly increases the absorption of disease-fighting antioxidants in tomatoes.
Can displace healthy foods. Although olive oil is a healthy fat source, it’s not as nutritious as whole foods. Drinking too much may displace healthier foods, such as other healthy fats, vegetables, and proteins.
Potential allergen. Although rare, olive pollen is a potential allergen, and olive oil can cause contact dermatitis in affected individuals.
Many benefits not supported by research. Many of the purported benefits of drinking olive oil are not supported by research but instead endorsed by companies selling olive oil or personal anecdotes.

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.

Samantha Cooper