Shark Tank India's Anupam Mittal says Starbucks desserts are 'more toxic than tobacco companies'

This is not the first time that Anupam Mittal has hit out at Starbucks. Last December, he had called the coffee chain a dessert store. (Image credit: Anupam Mittal. Starbucks India/Instagram)

Anupam Mittal has once again hit out at Starbucks for their high-sugar coffee and desserts, and claimed that they are "probably more toxic than tobacco companies". The founder of People Group which owns Shaadi.com said that the coffee chain's continued value erosion is inevitable. Mittal's comments were made after Starbucks replaced its Indian-origin CEO Laxman Narasimhan with Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol on August 13.

"Starbucks continued value erosion is inevitable unless they go back to their roots or reinvent their raison d’etre," the Shark Tank India judge wrote on X. "Right now they are less of a coffee shop and more of a dessert store with criminal levels of disguised sugar making people sick. Probably more toxic than tobacco companies."

Starbucks continued value erosion is inevitable unless they go back to their roots or reinvent their raison d’etre. Right now they are less of a coffee shop and more of a dessert store with criminal levels of disguised sugar making people sick. Probably more toxic than tobacco… https://t.co/gzoSpUqWu0

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— Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) August 13, 2024

Last December, Mittal called Starbucks a "dessert store". "Aaj realize hua (Today I realised) that Starbucks is not a coffee chain. It’s a very high sugar dessert store with laced caffeine… lethal combo," he wrote on X.

Aaj realize hua that Starbucks is not a coffee chain. It’s a v.high sugar dessert store with laced caffeine … lethal combo

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— Anupam Mittal (@AnupamMittal) December 21, 2023

Starbucks has often made news due to the sugar content in its beverages.

According to an analysis by Business Insider, a Grande Starbucks cappuccino contains 12g of sugar, and its new Grande-sized Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino Blended Beverage has 69 grams -- the equivalent of over 20 teaspoons of sugar. One large Caffè Vanilla Frappuccino Blended Beverage from Starbucks has 83 grams of sugar which is equal to almost 21 teaspoons, the publication stated, adding that the company refused to comment on their report.

Business Insider also quoted a health expert -- Lorraine Kearney, a certified dietitian-nutritionist based in New York -- saying that these products are meant to be consumed occasionally and if someone were to have them every day, it could increase their risk of health conditions.