Action on Sugar Flags Up Shocking Sugar Content in High Street Hot Drinks
Dentists are well-known for warning their patients about the dangers of fizzy drinks, but new research carried out by Action on Sugar may prompt renewed guidelines. The charity, which has long been campaigning for a sugar tax to be introduced in the UK to battle rising rates of obesity, childhood dental decay and type 2 diabetes, has published the nutritional information of some of the country’s mode popular hot drinks, with shocking results.
Fizzy drinks and energy drinks are often demonised by those trying to stick to a healthy, low-sugar diet, but there’s a new offender in town. Analysis by Action on Sugar shows that many of the high street’s best-selling hot drinks contain more sugar than a can of Coca-Cola. In fact, some drinks on sale at popular outlets contained more than twice the daily recommended sugar intake in just one serving.
Research published by the charity revealed that a Starbucks grape-flavoured hot mulled fruit drink in verdi size contained 25 teaspoons of sugar per serving. According to the World Health Organization, the recommended daily intake for an adult should be around six teaspoons per day.
The list contained more than 130 large-sized drinks, 98 percent of which would be labelled with a red traffic light for sugar under nutritional labelling guidelines.
Chairman of Action on Sugar, Professor Graham MacGregor, said that the report underlined the shocking truth behind products on sale in our shops and cafes.
In response to the report, a Starbucks spokesperson has said the firm is committed to reducing sugar content in its ‘indulgent drinks’ by up to 25 percent and Caffe Nero is set to reduce the sugar content of summer iced drinks by more than 10 percent.
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