The viral story merges three different things: a finished drink, airborne blending powder and silica-gel desiccant packets.Illustration: Nowpinion / OpenAI ImageGenThis editorial illustration was created with AI under Nowpinion's direction and reviewed by an editor.fact-check
The Starbucks Silica Scare Has the Wrong Target
The new blending powder contains food-grade silica, and baristas report airborne dust. That does not turn the finished drink into a poisonous desiccant packet.