Starbucks to drop controversial products from stores starting next week

Starbucks is dropping a controversial range of olive oil-infused coffees in the US and Canada from early November. It comes days after Brian Niccol, promised to shake up the coffeeshop giant's menu in an attempt to win back customers in Birmingham and the UK.

Starbucks says the Oleato range of drinks will still be sold in some outlets in Italy, Japan and China. "While this decision was made prior to Brian Niccol taking the role of CEO, the decision to remove the beverages aligns with his strategy to simplify our menu," a Starbucks spokesperson told the BBC.

Mr Niccol promised to simplify what he described as an "overly complex menu". Mr Niccol's comments came as Starbucks announced that its global sales had tumbled by a staggering seven per cent between July and September compared to a year earlier.

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Starbucks rolled out the Oleato drinks across North America less than a year ago, after initially being sold in Italy. The range features an iced shaken espresso and a latte with olive oil and oat milk. The products were created by Starbucks founder Howard Schultz, who said he was inspired by a visit to the olive groves of Sicily.

Mr Schultz came up with the idea "after being introduced to the Mediterranean custom of taking a spoonful of olive oil each day", a Starbucks press release said in 2023. But one tweeted to say "the Oleato at Starbucks is a legit laxative."

"I tried one and immediately had a shooting stomach pain so this is going to go over so well," wrote one Reddit user. Another added that, after trying the drink, they "just felt sick to my stomach lowkey." Another said: "Tried the sample today. Not bad imo. But I still prefer my white chocolate mocha."

"After being introduced to the Mediterranean custom of taking a spoonful of olive oil each day, [Schultz] soon began enjoying a spoonful of Partanna extra virgin olive oil as part of his daily ritual in addition to his morning coffee, and soon he had the idea of trying the two together," a 2023 press release from Starbucks explains.