“Isn’t it fair to ask if a drink with 180 grams of sugar is safe?” Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked about Dunkin’ beverages in an X post.
Social media shows off Dunkin’s large iced coffee bucket
The 48-ounce beverage bucket appears to be being tested at some Dunkin’ stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is not letting up on the Dunkin scandal.
In a March 4 post on X, Kennedy asked if Dunkin’s drinks containing 180 grams of sugar were reasonable. The post came in response to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey earlier in the day sharing a photo with X of the 1835 “Come and Take It” flag, first used at the beginning of the Texas Revolution, plus a Dunkin’ Cup.
“Nobody’s going to take your Dunkin away,” Kennedy responded. “But isn’t it reasonable to ask whether a drink with 180 grams of sugar is safe?”
Healy’s post came after the Eat Real Food Rally in Austin, Texas, on February 26, where Kennedy said he plans to pressure coffee chains like Dunkin’ and Starbucks to prove their ingredients are safe.
“I want to see the safety data that shows it’s safe for teenage girls to drink iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar,” Kennedy said during the rally. “I don’t think they can do it.”
President Kennedy’s harsh criticism of coffee chains like Dunkin’ comes after he announced new U.S. dietary guidelines in January that call for more protein, less sugar and fewer ultra-processed foods.
Does a Dunkin’ drink contain 180 grams of sugar?
According to Dunkin’ nutritional guide posted on the coffee chain’s website, none of the drinks on the menu contain 180 grams of sugar.
The drinks with the highest sugar content are the Large Butter Pecan Swirl Frozen Coffee with Skim Milk and the Large Caramel Cream Frozen Coffee, which contain 172 grams of sugar, according to the guide.
Kennedy’s X post comes about a week after Dunkin’ customers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were able to purchase 48-ounce beverage buckets, according to a previous report by USA TODAY. Customers can order Strawberry Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher, Blueberry Cobbler Iced Latte, and Caramel Coco Iced Coffee in the drink bucket, according to a social media post.
When contacted by USA TODAY on March 6, Dunkin’ did not immediately respond to explain how much sugar is in the drinks, which are served in 48-ounce buckets. But for reference, a large Strawberry Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher contains 72 grams of sugar, and a large Blueberry Cobbler Iced Latte contains 50 grams, according to the chain’s nutrition guide. Dunkin’s large iced drinks are 32 oz.
Contributors: Fernando Cervantes Jr. and Melina Khan, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
