Mercy For Animals is leading a growing trend and calling on more coffee chains to follow suit in the fight for health equity and sustainability.
LOS ANGELES — Scooter’s Coffee, the fourth-largest coffee chain in the United States, has officially removed the upcharge for plant-based milk at all 800+ locations across 29 states, after productive discussions with Mercy For Animals’ corporate engagement team. This decision follows similar moves by Starbucks and Dutch Bros, meaning that three of the four largest coffee chains now offer plant-based milk at no extra cost, with Dunkin’ remaining the notable outlier.
“We are thrilled that Scooter’s Coffee has listened to their customers and taken this important step,” said Jennifer Behr, corporate relations manager at Mercy For Animals. “Charging more for plant-based milk isn’t just an unfair pricing practice — it’s an equity issue. We’ve seen firsthand how upcharges create barriers for people who are lactose intolerant, particularly in communities of color, where lactose-intolerance rates are significantly higher.”
Mercy For Animals has engaged Scooter’s Coffee over the past year to raise awareness about the importance of removing the upcharge and promoting inclusivity through plant-based options:
- Studies show that nearly 90% of people from some areas of East Asia, 80% of Native Americans, 65% of Africans and African Americans and 50% of Latin Americans experience some form of lactose intolerance.
- Plant-based milk alternatives are crucial for the millions of Americans who cannot or choose not to consume dairy.
Beyond health and equity concerns, the environmental case for eliminating the upcharge is strong. Dairy products have a much greater environmental impact than plant-based alternatives. For example, compared with oat milk, cows’ milk production generates three times more greenhouse gas, uses 11 times more land and requires 13 times more fresh water. By removing the upcharge for plant-based milk, Scooter’s is encouraging customers to make more sustainable choices without an added financial burden.
“We applaud Scooter’s Coffee for leading by example in making plant-based options more affordable,” continued Behr. “Now we call on Dunkin’, Bluestone Lane and Biggby Coffee to follow suit. The trend is clear — plant-based milk should be available at no extra cost. It’s the fair, sustainable and health-conscious choice for customers everywhere.”
For more information or to schedule an interview with Jennifer Behr, contact Jessica Bohrson at [email protected].
###
Mercy For Animals is a leading international nonprofit working to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system. Active in Brazil, Canada, India, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United States, the organization has conducted over 100 investigations of factory farms and slaughterhouses, influenced over 500 corporate policies, and helped pass historic legislation to ban cages for farmed animals. Learn more at MercyForAnimals.org.
