By Stephen Donahue

Starbucks is known as one of the world's largest coffee chains, offering tasty pastries, large drinks, and protein boxes, but has recently faced criticism towards the ingredients in these “seemingly” normal food items. Among its most iconic offerings, there lies one main drink, the “Pumpkin Spice Latte”. The pumpkin spice latte is a seasonal drink that is only made in October each year. The result? Every year, a spike in sales due to the limited offering of the drink.

However, the truth behind this enjoyable drink is much different than what meets the eye. According to “Food Babe” the Pumpkin spice latte contains more than fifty grams of sugar, the equivalent of eating two large slices of cake, in a meager 237ml. According to HuffPost, and a quick calculation, it is estimated that the average American consumes 120 Pumpkin Spice lattes in one season, which is the equivalent of 6000 grams of sugar.That is the same as 6 kg of sugar in 120 days.

This is not the only aspect of pumpkin spice lattes that could be deadly. It is proven that the drink is made with two doses of Caramel Color Level IV, which does not sound like much. Still, this specific coloring type is made with ammonia and is also considered a carcinogenic substance.

It's worth noting that the Pumpkin Spice Latte, despite having pumpkin in its name, actually contains no real pumpkin! The list of questionable ingredients is extensive: it includes petroleum, which is labeled as "artificial flavors," pesticide residue, preservatives, and sulfites. Additionally, there is "Monsanto milk," a term used to describe milk that can potentially cause intestinal inflammation, among other concerns.

Although the pumpkin spice latte might be a nice seasonal drink for some, it's good to know about the deadly ingredients in such a typical drink. If you want to still consume pumpkin spice lattes in the seasonal months, it would be helpful to look up healthier options.