Massachusetts Loses Its Mind When Dunkin’ Drinks Are Criticized

Back away from the edge. No one is trying to take your Dunkin' fix; they are only pointing out that some Massachusetts-based junk food mills are dishing out billions of grams of sugar per day, much of which ends up in the bodies of our kids.

RFK Jr. Challenges Sugar in Coffee Drinks

"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is challenging two major coffee chains – Dunkin' and Starbucks – as part of his 'Make America Healthy Again' initiative," reported CBS News.

"We're gonna ask Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks, show us the safety data that shows that it's OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it," Kennedy said. "I don't think they're gonna be able to do it."

Massachusetts Governor Pushes Back

Healey told Kennedy, who also has close ties to Massachusetts, to focus on measles instead.

Newsweek reported Kennedy's comments "prompted backlash online, with Americans sharing jokes and memes about the prospect of losing the chain."

"Losing the chain?" That escalated quickly.

How Much Sugar Is in Some Coffee Drinks?

Newsweek admitted, "Many of Dunkin' Donuts' signature drinks have levels of sugar that far exceed the recommended daily allowance." Newsweek reported that some Dunk frozen coffee options "exceed 100 grams of sugar per drink."

Health Experts Warn About Sugary Beverages

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet."

"Adults who often drink sugary drinks are more likely to experience health problems," the CDC said.

A friend confessed that she bought three Dunkin' iced coffee drinks to store in the fridge in case she lost her power during the recent blizzard. "I removed the ice cubes so they wouldn't melt and dilute the taste," she told me. I swear this is true!

Concerns About Rising Diabetes in Children

The Journal of Health Economics and Outcomes Research writes about a "sudden rise" of type 2 diabetes in children and a "proliferation of youth-onset disease," once found almost exclusively in older adults. Experts believe poor dietary choices are a big contributor.

Next time you think about handing your 10-year-old a frozen Dunkin' or Starbucks coffee, consider a bottle of water instead.

Dunkin' is getting the headlines, but Kennedy also called on Starbucks, with an interesting link to New Bedford, to do better. Dunkin' and Starbucks both provide a Nutrition Guide for their products on their websites.