A Starbucks coffee store in Xujiahui, Shanghai Photo: IC

US coffee giant Starbucks said over the weekend that the words on coffee takeaway packages, which appeared to display inappropriate lecture, "were originally blessings" offered to customers and have since received the latter's understanding.

The response came after a consumer said the surface of coffee takeaway bags displayed hand-written words which translated into English as "Don't judge others rashly, no one knows what happened" and "Tolerance, kindness and generosity are worthy of your excellence," which caused discomfort for the consumer who took offence at the lecturing tone.

"We have communicated with customers and obtained their understanding. Customers expressed their belief that the store staff are well-intentioned in offering their blessings," Starbucks said Saturday. The Starbucks store involved has apologized and refunded the money, media reported, citing the customer involved.

The US coffee brand has recently suffered through a PR crisis for allegedly driving out four local policemen at a store in Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. Starbucks later apologized, saying there was misunderstanding in communication.

On February 9, Starbucks was fined around 1.36 million yuan ($210,000) by local market regulator in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, after two of its outlets in the city were found to have adjusted ingredient shelf life and used expired ingredients.

Since entering the Chinese mainland in 1999, Starbucks has been one of the fastest-growing American companies, and the Chinese mainland has become its largest overseas market. The chain shop currently operates more than 5,400 stores in more than 200 cities in the Chinese mainland, according to its official website.

Global Times