High Street Chains: Selling Iced Coffees with More Sugar Than a Mars Bar or Can of Coke
- NHS Health Advice: No More Than 30g of Free Sugar per Day
High street chains have been found to sell iced coffees that contain more sugar than a Mars bar or can of Coke, according to research.
Even consuming a single cooling frappe or Frappuccino from certain outlets would exceed the maximum recommended daily sugar intake for adults.
These iced coffees are not covered by the sugar tax imposed on soft drinks, leaving a legal loophole despite efforts to combat the obesity epidemic.
The NHS health advice recommends a maximum of 30g, or approximately seven teaspoons, of free sugar per day.
For example, a Starbucks caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk contains 48.5g of sugar, equivalent to 12 teaspoons. Meanwhile, a Caffe Nero Belgian chocolate and hazelnut frappe creme contains 44.5g of sugar, equivalent to 11 teaspoons.
NHS health advice suggests a maximum of 30g – or around seven teaspoons of free sugar – a day
However, a Starbucks caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk came in at 48.5g of sugar – equivalent to 12 teaspoons (file photo)
Furthermore, a chocolate fudge brownie frappe mocha with oat milk from Costa contained 42.6g of sugar, equivalent to 10.5 teaspoons.
In comparison, a standard 51g Mars chocolate bar contains 31g of sugar, equivalent to 7.5 teaspoons, and a 330ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35g of sugar, equivalent to 8.5 teaspoons.
Even the chains’ simple coffee-flavored frappes are excessively sweet, with a Costa Coffee frappe with skimmed milk containing 21.3g of sugar.
While restaurant chains with over 250 employees are required to display calorie labeling, sugar content is not included in these regulations.
Which? nutritionist Shefalee Loth stated, “Our analysis of sugar content in iced coffee blends shows that people could unknowingly be consuming much more sugar than they realize, with potentially damaging implications for their health.”
She added, “High street chains need to take more responsibility and reduce the excessive sugar content of some of their drinks to protect people’s health. When buying an iced drink, there are alternative, healthier options to choose.”
Starbucks responded by saying, “We are committed to helping customers make informed and improved choices, offering a range of customization options such as choosing our smallest size (tall) and our oat dairy alternative with no added sugar. Customers can find nutritional information on our mobile app, online, and on our menu boards.”
Costa and Caffe Nero noted that their drinks are not subject to the sugar tax in response to Which?’s request for comment.
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