STARBUCKS TEA SPIKED, U.S. LAWSUIT CLAIMS: COFFEE GIANT ACCUSED OF USING BANNED STIMULANT EPHEDRINE September 8, 2001 The Vancouver Sun Dan Whitcomb LOS ANGELES --

A California public-interest group, the Council for Education and Research on Toxics, has, according to this story, sued Starbucks Corp., claiming that America's largest coffee retailer secretly spikes its Tazo Chai Tea with ephedrine, a herbal stimulant banned in food by U.S. regulators. Seattle-based Starbucks was cited as strongly denying the allegation on Friday as it celebrated its 30th anniversary, promising a vigorous court fight.