Starbucks has terminated its expanded kosher information partnership with STAR-K, significantly limiting the number of beverages the certification agency can verify as kosher-compliant, effective immediately.
The kosher certification organization announced that it will now only recommend a small selection of Starbucks beverages, marking a major shift from its previous comprehensive listings.
STAR-K cited ongoing concerns about cross-contamination risks, noting that Starbucks locations regularly serve non-kosher meat and cheese products. Rabbi Moshe Heinemann, STAR-K's Rabbinic Administrator, has maintained since 2011 that kosher consumers should avoid drinks prepared with equipment that may have been cleaned alongside non-kosher utensils.
For Jewish travelers without access to kosher-certified coffee options, STAR-K outlined specific leniencies based on religious rulings, including those of the Noda B'Yehuda. However, the organization emphasized that consumers should remain cautious about additions like syrups, sauces, toppings, and alternative milks unless they carry reliable kosher certification.
Select beverages that don't come into contact with questionable equipment will remain acceptable at all Starbucks locations, though the list is significantly reduced from previous guidance.
Yeshiva World News contributed to this article.