Hurray! Admittedly I didn't really mind spending 30 more cents on a latte (considering how expensive Starbucks is anyway), but it did almost feel as if we were being "penalized" for wanting soy instead of dairy. Now I can indulge in my cinnamon dolce soy lattes on the cheap (well, relatively speaking...it IS Starbucks!).

Posted by: BullyDawg | March 24, 2008 03:28 PM

Yay! No more extra charges for soy!

Posted by: Ashleigh M. | March 24, 2008 04:02 PM

Actually, anything Dunkin' is kind of a no-no at this time, because Dunkin' Donuts has had a partnership with Mars Inc. since earlier this year; they sell 2 co-branded products using Mars chocolates in Dunkin' Donuts. PETA has a current campaign against Mars Inc. for conducting/supporting animal testing.

Dunkin' is "very proud" of their partnership with Mars Inc., thus they should not be supported as a business for teaming up with a company that not only commissions cruel animal testing, but then tries to confuse the public by saying they do not when the controversy first hit the media due to PETA's campaign.

Posted by: Glen Venezio | March 24, 2008 04:04 PM

I think this is a great gesture, although I also agree with Glen (and no doubt others who will eventually chime in) that we must look at the company's practices as a whole.

Starbucks has a confusing history. Although they are a big company, they are, at least in publicity, making a huge effort for the environment and vegan lifestyles.

I always look for SHADE GROWN coffee, but always find "Fair Trade" instead. Contrary to popular belief, they are not the same thing.

Most coffee from South America requires huge amounts of deforestation, ruining habitat for sloths and many many other species and plants.

Starbucks seems to be promoting shade grown coffee, but not selling it!

They also seem to be good about offering travel mugs, but some places offer a discount and some don't.

To look at their educational materials, it seems as though they are indeed promoting good environmental and vegan practices; will they make a real, tangible difference in how they run things, though?

The pressure must stay on corporations to practice what they preach, in a serious manner, relative to the size of the company.

Posted by: Maya, CVT | March 24, 2008 04:59 PM

I was a Starbucks Barista one summer (to help pay for a documentary on animal rights, ironically) and I passed the time by plugging soymilk to all the customers ("Have you tried it with soymilk? It's so much better!").

So for all you coffee shop (and anything else) employees, don't forget to plug animal-friendly products!

I didn't talk about pus though. Maybe I should have on my last day at work. :-)

Posted by: Mark | March 24, 2008 07:01 PM

I wrote Starbucks a letter, asking them to start serving vegan pastries. They responded, and said they'd look into it...but I haven't seen any. More people should write to them!

Posted by: Jessie Strand | March 24, 2008 09:58 PM

awesome. i wonder if this means they will start making their blended drinks with soy too? :) hopefully...

Posted by: Mylie | March 25, 2008 09:28 AM

What the heck's a "registered Starbuck's card"?

Posted by: Mike | March 25, 2008 10:41 AM

I worked at two different coffee houses while in high school. I wasn't a veg at the time, but I actually used to promote the soy milk over cow because it froths much nicer and fluffier! So, if you work at a coffee shop, or are at one chatting with someone, reccommend the soy milk if they want their froth to be smoother!

Posted by: Sandra | March 25, 2008 11:22 AM

I thought Starbuck's supported rodeos?

Posted by: kelly | March 25, 2008 12:36 PM

About time soy milk was considered "main stream".

Posted by: Hb | March 25, 2008 05:17 PM

this is awesome! i actually find the more places i go to and order something like salads without chicken on them- actually take off a few dollars for the lack of death on the delicious salad. I have to say though, i am still a little angry that Dunkin Donuts doesnt offer soy milk- but lets try to change that ;)

Posted by: Peter | March 25, 2008 08:15 PM

thats awesome about starbucks...im obsessed myself. ive written to dunkins and made out comment cards in various locations a few times and still no soy. but on their website in their menu or nutritional facts or something it says that they have soy lattes...so ive been waiting for them to come somewhere near me in ME! hopefully someday soon. there are a million dunkins near my apartment but no starbucks within walking distance.

Posted by: Michele | March 26, 2008 08:13 AM

Mike,

I think a "registered" card is a gift card that you register through their website, or perhaps through the store. I remember I had a Sonic Card (oh, yeah, this was before I went veg) and had the option to register it; they'd email me coupons, special offers, etc. Since it is a debit, the money runs out, but you can "reload" it.

Posted by: BullyDawg | March 26, 2008 10:52 AM

kelly

They do support rodeos and that is why I boycott Starbuck's. I wrote them two letters about rodeos and how they should not support them but they sent me a ridiculous answer and my second letter they did not respond to. Maybe PETA does no do enough about rodeos but supporting Starbuck's is supporting rodeos. Boycott Starbuck's!!

Posted by: Ana | March 26, 2008 12:24 PM

Kelly and Ana, thank you for alerting us to Starbuck's support of rodeos. I won't buy from them any more.

Interestingly, as I was sitting here my boyfriend just heard a news report that Starbucks also confiscates a portion of money from the tip jar that is supposed to be for employees. Shameful.

Peace, ladies. ;)

Posted by: Maya, C.V.T. | March 26, 2008 05:27 PM

Yeah, we'll have to work on that rodeo thing.
But the soy news is great-though doggone it, I love my Starbacks black, Jack.

Posted by: lynda downie | March 27, 2008 01:20 AM

Oops! My bad! That would be StarbUcks!

Posted by: lynda downie | March 27, 2008 01:24 AM

Joel also listed Taco Bell as a place to get one of Norfolk's "ten best meals" (Dec 24.).

Let me get this straight: PETA's Marketing Manager supports rodeos with his coffee in the morning and Yum! brands (KFC's owner) on his lunch hour.

Outstanding. Well, I guess it's not a big deal....

Posted by: sharik | March 27, 2008 02:16 AM

REASONS TO BOYCOTT STARBUCKS
union-busting, cheerleading for Israel's war crimes, block-busting & urban sprawl (putting REAL cafes out of business), commercial coffee that destroys farmers & families, rainforest & birds, toxic dairy products, cheap sweatshop-made chochkes... Go to a REAL cafe instead. Please!

Posted by: r | March 27, 2008 04:31 AM

I think we need to be careful about confusing our issues here, folks. Starbucks is the largest and most popular coffee company in the world, and it's massively important that they are both popularizing dairy alternatives and setting an example for the industry that providing soy milk to customers is a good business decision.

Similarly, while many of us may make a personal ethical choice to boycott all Yum! brands products because of KFC's abusive treatment of animals, it is still important to recognize the value of having vegan options available to Taco Bell customers.

Whether we like it or not, most huge corporations aren't going to be 100 percent in line with the most progressive ethical standards, and while we do need to push them to do the right thing, that doesn't mean we shouldn't sometimes accentuate the positive.

:)

-jack

Posted by: Jack | March 27, 2008 11:28 AM

sharik,

Thanks for being such a regular reader of the blog!

It's true that I do get a lot of excitement about vegan options being widely available all over the world. Starbucks has introduced soy milk to more people than... well... pretty much anything or anyone else.

And it's always made me happy when people've said it's difficult to go vegan to be able to list off Taco Bell, Subway, Quiznos, etc... as places you can find anywhere (along with ethnic food places, etc..).

Posted by: Joel Bartlett | March 27, 2008 12:18 PM

I wanted to add that while vegans in metropolitan areas have a much wider array of choices re: vegetarian outlets, folks such as myself that live in smaller communities don't have those dining options...rural Mississippi doesn't have too many Indian and Mediterranean places! So having options from outlets like Subway, Taco Bell, etc. make it easier for a lot of people to go vegetarian. The fact that Wal-Mart carries Boca and Morningstar products is a plus as well for small-town-vegs!

Posted by: BullyDawg | March 27, 2008 06:19 PM

This makes me wet my pants.

Yeah, right.

Any news on what Wal-Mart is going to do for me in the $29 DVD player department? Same base level of quality, really.

Posted by: lamestarbucks | March 28, 2008 12:27 AM