Starbucks Recall: Coffee Maker Won't Stop Using Chinese Products

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Post Chronicle

by Jack Ryan

The Starbucks recall won't be enough to stop the world's largest coffee-shop chain from sourcing products from China, according to Bloomberg.

Starbucks recalled 250,000 children's cups with animal faces, some of which broke and caused choking. They were recalled from U.S. and Canada stores, a year after removing 73,000 China-made coffee machines prone to overheating and melting, according to company statements.

"This is an isolated incident," Starbucks spokesman Brandon Borrman stated in a company statement from the coffee maker's Seattle headquarters on Thursday. "In an issue like this we act very quickly. We frequently conduct design safety reviews and have an ongoing process of random testing."

Animal faces on Starbucks' plastic cups broke in no less than seven instances, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said yesterday in a statement.

Read more: http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212108616.shtml

[Deja Q]

1. Their new cappuccino will have a nice sweet, thick, antifreeze aftertaste.

:9

Oh, will they offer it in complimentary lead-laden mugs?

[Warren DeMontague]

2. I had to read this article several times to convince myself it wasn't "animal feces"

Yuk.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. I did too...then...what's the difference? Eating broken plastic or animal doodoo?

Another reason to buy American products (IF they are quality!)

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Neither is particularly appealing.

But, then, neither is paying 5 bucks for a cup of coffee.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. I've never been in a starbucks & never will.

[cutlassmama]

7. I go through the drive thru. I'm not a yuppie, there for the status

I thought it was going to be a while before they imported their beans from China? So is just the cups or is the beans too. I'm still drinking their mocha lattes (they are truly addicting), but if the beans are coming from China now, I will stop.

[shanti]

19. that's nice

:eyes:

[BootinUp]

6. How come they don't test them before they buy them? n/t

[Systematic Chaos]

8. Because that kind of thing costs money and pisses off shareholders?

n/t

[krabigirl]

9. Another reason to support coffee chains other than Starbucks.

[kestrel91316]

10. Yep. I go to Peet's.

[krabigirl]

17. I love Peet's!

[shanti]

20. actually, i like peet's better too

but still go to starbucks mostly. how can you avoid them, they're everywhere!

[lateo]

11. Starbucks sucks any way.

If you like bitter, burnt coffee you probably won't be tasting the lead and antifreeze.

[Honeycombe8]

12. Starbucks is hoping to expand into China is one reason. Second reason...

the same as why other businesses like Mattel continue to buy from China - because they're the cheapest game in town, and if you wanna sell in volume to America, you've got to get your costs down as far as possible.

The health care that Starbucks provides its employees, unlike most other coffee shops, is expensive.

You gonna quit buying toys by Mattel, too?

You gonna quit shopping at Wal-Mart...and Target....and Sam's...and Costco...and Home Depot....and Lowe's??? All the big discounters buy from China. (I confess that I don't shop much at Wal-Mart...if I can find what I need somewhere else. Has to do with its not providing affordable decent health care to its employees.)

[Honeycombe8]

13. I think Starbucks is a great co. The owner provides health ins. for the employees...

unheard of in that sort of business. The employees also get other benefits, I think, like shares of stock (the higher up ones). They also are more flexible with work schedules, employees with young children, etc.

ALL the big companies buy from China. If that upsets you, you won't be able to buy just about anything in our country. Name any big company, and it does business with China in some way.

(I saw a documentary on the owner of Starbucks. Interesting story. The guy grew up dirt poor...I mean REALLY poor. His dad had been working, but then got injured and was unable to work. The family hit rock bottom. Destitute. Maybe went to an orphanage, I think. A hard knock life, so to speak. And from there, he became a very wealthy entrepreneur. It's an amazing story. Oh...and the reason he provides health ins. for Starbucks employees? Because his family didn't have health care, and one of his parents died as a result, if I am remembering correctly.)

Yep...a class act of a man. And a good company.

[Critters2]

15. Already have.

Buy local. Buy American.

www.boycottmadeinchina.org

[Honeycombe8]

18. I wish I could. I work too many hours a week to go searching for...

my household items or groceries. I must be able to buy them readily. You are lucky if you have time to go the extra mile to look for items not made in China. I don't.

In fact, it's Saturday, and I'm working at home. Today AND tomorrow. And all next week. And maybe next weekend.

I had to buy groceries last night at the neighborhood grocery store, on my way home from work. No time even to go pick up the items that Target carries that are cheaper.

Maybe one day I'll have more time. Maybe.

Well, back to work.

[mahina]

14. I'm boycotting underpants.

Try to find underpants made in the US. Can't do it, not wearing them.

[Seabiscuit]

16. I guess I'll just continue boycotting Starbucks.

I only went there once and was appalled at their prices.

Never set foot in there again.