Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the ones we're most often asked.
- Does your product contain Caffeine?Click to show answer
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Because authentic Starbucks® coffee is used as an ingredient, Starbucks® ice cream contains the following caffeine amounts per serving:
Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream Pint 25 - 30 mg per serving
Coffee Ice Cream Pint 35 -45 mg per serving
Java Chip Frappuccino Ice Cream Pint 40 - 50 mg per serving
Mocha Frappuccino Ice Cream Pint 20 - 25 mg per serving
Java Chip Ice Cream Cup 35 - 40 mg per serving
Coffee Ice Cream Bar 25 - 30 mg per serving
Mocha Ice Cream Bar 15 - 20 mg per serving - Does your product contain Gluten?Click to show answer
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We recommend consumers read the label each time before buying our product. If gluten is present, it is clearly listed in plain language on the ingredient label (i.e., wheat flour, rye, barley, oats, and malt). We do not publish a list of gluten-free flavors.
- What happened to the flavors of Starbucks® ice cream that I used to purchase?Click to show answer
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Starbucks® ice cream was introduced in 1996 through a partnership with Dreyer’s. Beginning in 2009, Starbucks ice cream will be manufactured, marketed and distributed by Unilever, which leads the same function for other innovative ice cream brands. The two companies have taken the opportunity to refresh the product line and develop super-premium ice cream offerings inspired by consumers’ favorite Starbucks beverages.
- Where can I locate Starbucks® ice cream products?Click to show answer
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Please click on "WHERE TO BUY" found at the top of this page to use our product locator to find a participating store near you.
Starbucks® ice cream products are available through national distribution and can be ordered by stores willing to stock them. Although we would like each of our products to be available in all stores, shelf space and consumer demand sometimes limit the number of items a retailer is able to carry.
If you’d like to see Starbucks® ice cream products at a store near you, we encourage you to talk with the store manager. - Why isn’t Starbucks® ice cream available in quarts, as it once was?Click to show answer
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Starbucks® ice cream was introduced in 1996 through a partnership with Dreyer’s. Since 2009, Starbucks ice cream has been manufactured, marketed and distributed by Unilever, which leads the same function for other innovative ice cream brands. The two companies decided to offer the new super-premium Starbucks® ice cream line in pints, a single-serve cup and novelty bars based on consumer preferences.
- What is Locust Bean Gum?Click to show answer
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A vegetable gum extracted from the seeds of the carob tree. It forms a food reserve for the seeds and helps to retain water under arid conditions. It is used as a thickener and gelling agent in food technology.
- Is your product Kosher?Click to show answer
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Starbucks® Ice Cream is certified Kosher. Kosher designation for food indicates that a certified official of Jewish faith has inspected the production facility and found that sources, processing and handling of that food satisfy Jewish dietary regulations. The Kof-K symbol will appear on the front of the container if the product is certified Kosher.
- Can I consume the Starbucks® ice cream products after the TBB date?Click to show answer
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This is the date that assures the products optimum freshness and quality. They do have an extended shelf life when stored properly. However if the product has become icy, freezer burnt, and/or deformed it is up to the consumers discretion if the item can be consumed.
- Does your product contain Allergens?Click to show answer
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It is Unilever’s policy that when any of the eight most common allergens (milk, eggs, fish, wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans and crustaceans) occur in any of our products they will be listed inside the ingredient statement in plain language.
We do not have dedicated production lines in our manufacturing facilities for products containing allergens. We have special handling procedures for all allergenic ingredients used in our manufacturing facilities. - I have an idea for a new product.Click to show answer
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Please visit Starbucks.com/aboutus which will explain the submission process and provide you with complete instructions.
- Are the eggs in your product pasteurized?Click to show answer
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The eggs we use in our ice cream have been pasteurized to kill salmonella and other bacteria that may be present in raw eggs. The pasteurization process for eggs is similar to that of milk.
- What is the shelf life of Starbucks® ice cream products?Click to show answer
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Product quality should be maintained for at least 18 months from date of manufacturing.
- What is carrageenan?Click to show answer
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A derivative of Irish sea moss, and we use it as a stabilizer. It's purpose is to bond with water molecules and inhibit the growth of ice crystals as the ice cream freezes. This water-bonding property also offers some protection from iciness due to temperature fluctuations during distribution. We use very small amounts of this ingredient and, because it is a natural plant product, we feel it contributes to the overall quality of our ice cream without compromising its purity or wholesomeness.
- How does this product relate to the former Starbucks® ice cream?Click to show answer
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Starbucks® ice cream was introduced in 1996 through a partnership with Dreyer’s. Since 2009, Starbucks ice cream has been manufactured, marketed and distributed by Unilever, which leads the same function for other innovative ice cream brands.
The new super-premium Starbucks® ice cream is: – inspired by your favorite Starbucks beverages – made with high-quality ingredients – available in pints - How is Starbucks® ice cream made?Click to show answer
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Following is the manufacturing procedures as set forth by the International Ice Cream Association:
Preparation: Mixtures consist of dairy or iced products to which sweeteners and stabilizers have been added. Stabilizers keep products smooth by preventing the formation of large ice crystals.
Pasteurization: The mix is heated to a specified temperature for a prescribed time period. The mix is pasteurized in order to destroy harmful microorganisms.
Homogenization: Mechanically generated pressure breaks up any fat globules to ensure a smooth product.
Freezing: During freezing, the mix is agitated to keep the ice crystals small and incorporate air into the product. The amount of aeration differs depending on the product.
Other ingredients are added: Fruits, nuts, or other optional ingredients are incorporated into the mixture after freezing. The liquid flavoring ingredients have usually been added to the mix before it goes to the freezer.
Filling: The mixture is mechanically placed into containers (pints, cups) or molds (for stick and other novelty products).
Hardening: The products are subjected to low temperatures, but no agitation of the product takes place. - Do Starbucks® ice cream products contain Corn Syrup?Click to show answer
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Corn syrup is used in certain Starbucks® ice cream products to provide sweetness and to contribute to texture. Corn syrup is a sweetener made from corn, and its makeup is similar to that of table sugar or honey. If corn syrup is in the product it will be clearly listed inside the ingredient statement in plain language.
- What is Guar Gum?Click to show answer
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Guar Gum is made from a bean seed, and we use it as a stabilizer. Its purpose is to bond with water molecules and inhibit the growth of ice crystals as the ice cream freezes. This water-bonding property also offers some protection from iciness due to temperature fluctuations during distribution. We use very small amounts of this ingredient and, because it is a natural plant product, we feel it contributes to the overall quality of our ice cream without compromising its purity or wholesomeness. It is relatively flavorless and odorless.
- Does the dairy you use come from cows treated with rBGH?Click to show answer
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The farmers who supply the milk and cream for this ice cream pledge not to treat their cows with rBGH.* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH-treated and untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of the other ingredients in this ice cream can promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.
*According to the FDA, no significant difference has been shown and no test can distinguish between milk from rBGH-treated and untreated cows. Not all of the suppliers of our other ingredients can promise the milk they use comes from untreated cows. - How do I locate the Tastes Best Before Date on package?Click to show answer
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For Starbucks® ice cream pint containers: The Tastes Best Before date is found on the bottom of the container near the center in the white area.
For Starbucks® ice cream bar packages: The Tastes Best Before date is embossed into the side panel of each box. - What is the best way to store Starbucks® ice cream products?Click to show answer
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– At the supermarket, buy Frozen Foods last
– Be sure the package shows no signs of thawing or re-freezing
– Ask that the ice cream be placed in a plastic bag with other frozen foods
– At home, immediately unpack the ice cream and place it in the coldest part of the freezer, not in the door where it is subject to fluctuating temperatures
– Keep freezer control set at -11F or below - Are the Starbucks® ice cream products lactose free?Click to show answer
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None of the Starbucks® ice cream products are lactose free. Lactose is the naturally occurring sugar in milk (milk sugar) and is the principal carbohydrate found in milk. People that are lactose intolerant cannot digest lactose.
- Tamper Bands – Are they recyclable?Click to show answer
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The plastic tamper bands on Starbucks® ice cream packages can be recycled. They are made from PVC and fall under the recycle symbol #3. If the recycling program in your local area accepts #3 plastic then the Starbucks® ice cream tamper bands can be recycled.
- Does Starbucks® ice cream contain trans fat?Click to show answer
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Starbucks® ice cream contains zero grams of trans fat per serving. Starbucks® ice cream contains the following amounts of Total Fat and Saturated Fat per serving:
Total Fat / Saturated Fat
Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream Pint 13 g / 8 g
Coffee Ice Cream Pint 13 g / 8 g
Java Chip Frappuccino Ice Cream Pint 15 g / 10 g
Mocha Frappuccino Ice Cream Pint 13 g / 8 g
Java Chip Ice Cream Cup 13 g / 8 g
Coffee Ice Cream Bar 22 g / 14 g
Mocha Ice Cream Bar 18 g / 11 g - How can I obtain Starbucks sponsorship or donation information?Click to show answer
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Starbucks is very active in community giving in numerous ways, on both national and local levels. Please visit Starbucks.com/about us to find out more about the different ways we give.