A short video testing out an ingredient used in some Starbucks blended drinks has been viewed more than 8.3 million times, racking up over 14,000 comments and a wave of concern online, with viewers debating everything from food safety regulation to whether they should keep ordering their usual Frappuccino.
The video, posted to TikTok account PLAZA, shows a Starbucks employee and a friend, referred to as Lori, opening and examining what the caption calls “blending powder,” an ingredient the creator says has recently appeared in more of the chain’s drinks. “Okay guys so this is me and Lori, we’re gonna be testing out the blending powder because, as you guys know, it’s toxic,” the creator says at the start of the clip, before Lori jokingly adds, “Bro, you’re gonna get cancer.”
According to the video’s caption, “Starbucks employees expose that Starbucks is using ‘blending powder’ in many of their newer drinks,” and the powder “was just introduced this month.”
Why Starbucks’ blending powder is raising questions about silica
The caption lists the ingredients as gum arabic, maltodextrin, xanthan gum, natural flavor, silica and stevia extract, or rebaudioside-A, and says the mixture “acts as an emulsifier and stabilizer” to help blended drinks keep their texture and “slow separation that would otherwise happen soon after the drink leaves the blender.”
From there, the video’s focus narrows to one ingredient in particular.”One of the main things in this is silica, that’s silicon dioxide, and it’s used as an anti caking agent, prevents the clumping,” the creator says, before turning to what she sees as the real concern.
“I’ve seen a lot of videos of baristas at Starbucks coughing, they say that this is hurting their throats, this powder, as it gets airborne they’re breathing it in, they’re getting headaches.”
She then connects that claim to the way silica is discussed in industrial and occupational health contexts, saying “the fine silicone dust can become airborne as a powder when it’s scooped and repeated inhalation of certain forms of silica is linked to serious lung conditions.”
Silicon dioxide is a widely used food additive, while the inhalation risks associated with crystalline silica are typically linked to prolonged occupational exposure, such as in mining or construction settings, rather than incidental exposure from scooping a beverage mix.
The video does not include any workplace safety data, medical documentation or comment from Starbucks confirming that baristas have reported these symptoms. The ingredient list has also become a major focus of the discussion, with commenters parsing individual components and questioning whether they are safe to consume.
The comments have largely been alarmed, with more than 14,000 responses on the post. One commenter wrote, “Yall about to lose ur jobs. Btw Thank You!!” while another argued, “the FDA is useless.” A third took the discussion in a different direction, writing, “Girls, get a lawyer, you’re entitled to a whistleblower settlement if you’re fired.”
Other commenters picked up on the silica point specifically, with one asking, “Silica dust is also in drywall can cause serious respiratory issues. How could it be safe to ingest,” while another took a more resigned tone, writing simply, “Just fyi, you can avoid drinking this by not purchasing it.”
Starbucks has not publicly addressed the video, and the identity of the employee featured has not been confirmed. Workers filming how food and drinks are prepared behind the scenes has also produced viral clips from other chains, including this footage from a Little Caesars worker that drew attention online.
It’s also unclear how widespread the ingredient’s use actually is across the chain’s blended drink lineup, or whether the barista discomfort described in the video reflects an isolated account or a broader pattern among employees.
Published: Aug 14, 2026 04:02 am