Starbucks workers raise alarm over silica in new blended drinks

Starbucks Workers United drew 94.8K views on Threads after warning that the silica-based blending powder in Starbucks’ new Blended Refreshers can become airborne and raise breathing concerns for baristas. The union said, “Our union is hearing concerns from baristas about an ingredient in the new Starbucks Blended Refreshers. The blending powder is silica-based and becomes airborne easily. Breathing in silica powder can be dangerous.”

The warning landed as Starbucks rolled out Blended Energy Refreshers for summer 2026 starting July 14. The lineup includes four frozen blended drinks, and Starbucks highlighted Passionfruit Guava as a limited-time flavor. The company has also marketed the drinks as handcrafted with caffeine sourced from nature and B vitamins, while summer-menu coverage noted that S’mores Frappuccino was coming back at the same time.

For store crews, the issue sits at the blender, not the board. Workers posting about the launch said the powder can become airborne during use, and the union said Starbucks should address the problem if partners are starting to feel side effects. That makes the new drinks more than another seasonal add-on: they add another ingredient to handle during rushes, another surface to clean and another inhalation concern to manage while mobile orders and drive-thru tickets keep moving.

The ingredient itself is not new to Starbucks’ product system. The company’s nutrition information for Blended Pink Drink lists silica in the refresher base, alongside water, sugars, xanthan gum, pectin and stevia extract. That matters because the concern is centered on how the ingredient behaves in the store, especially when a powder can go airborne during prep and land where partners are working.

Health guidance backs up the basic warning. OSHA says crystalline silica exposure can cause serious health effects, and the American Lung Association says silica dust can penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to serious lung disease. Starbucks Workers United has framed the issue as a workplace hazard that needs a fix before baristas keep making the drinks at scale.