Experts urge Brits to limit festive treats as chains launch sugar-laden Christmas drinks
Experts are urging Brits to limit their intake of festive treats in the run-up to Christmas as high street cafes and coffee shops launch menus featuring sugar-laden, seasonal drinks.
Analysis of popular festive drinks from the high street’s most high-profile coffee shops shows that a single serving often contains more than the recommended daily intake of sugar for adults. Some of the drinks on offer have more sugar in them than fizzy drinks, doughnuts and chocolate bars.
The worst offender on the seasonal drinks menu is Starbucks’ Praline Cookie Hot Chocolate, which contains a staggering 43g of sugar per mug. This is 13g more than the recommended daily intake for an adult. It equates to the same sugar content as 3.5 glazed Krispy Kreme doughnuts and has the same calorie content as four McVitie’s chocolate digestive biscuits.
Caffe Nero’s Salted Caramel Brownie Hot Chocolate had the most calories per serving at 441. This is more than a McDonald’s cheeseburger. It also contains 42.9g of sugar, which is double the amount of a homemade Cadbury’s hot chocolate.
Costa’s Terry’s Chocolate Orange Hot Chocolate was the most sugar-laden offering at the popular high street coffee shop, with 42.2g per mug. This is the equivalent of two KitKat Chunky bars.
Dr Duane Mellor, a dietitian from Aston Medical School, urged people to be cautious when ordering festive drinks. Most contain far more sugar and calories than fizzy drinks, which are widely regarded as “not an ideal drink choice.” Many of the drinks on sale now contain more calories than snacks and sandwiches and one serving exceeds the recommended daily intake of sugar. Dr Mellor encouraged the public to take note of labels and nutritional information and avoid adding other “festive nibbles” such as mince pies to their orders. For healthier options, he recommends spiced fruit teas.
Dr Linda Greenwall, from the Dental Wellness Trust, said that sugary drinks are “one of the main contributors to Britain’s tooth decay crisis” and added that customers should be aware of the sugar content of seasonal drinks. It is particularly important for parents to tread carefully when buying for children. The recommended daily intake of sugar for children under 6 is 19g and children aged 7-10 should not consume more than 24g of sugar per day.
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