The truth behind sugar-laden festive drinks: the UK’s worst offenders revealed
The countdown to Christmas is on and many people have already been sampling festive treats, including seasonal hot drinks at their favourite cafes and coffee shops.
New research suggests that many of the UK’s favourite festive hot drinks are laden with sugar, with some containing far more than fizzy pop and energy drinks. The worst offenders were found to contain up to 15 cubes of sugar per serving.
A team from Kent Express, a dental supplier, analysed the nutritional information for the best-selling festive hot drinks across the country. The findings revealed shocking results.
The study found that Caffe Nero’s mint choc chip hot chocolate had the highest content, with 63.5g of sugar. This is over double the recommended daily intake of sugar, according to NHS guidelines.
Caffe Nero’s hazelnut hot chocolate came in second place, with a fudge brownie hot chocolate from Starbucks in 3rd position. The top 10 also included Costa’s Terry’s chocolate orange hot chocolate and Quality Street toffee penny latte, as well as Pret a Manger’s popcorn bar hot chocolate.
NHS guidance suggests that products that contain more than 22.5g of sugar per 100g have high sugar content. Out of the 20 products analysed by the Kent Express team, 18 exceeded this quantity. The drink with the lowest sugar content (14g) was Costa’s gingerbread latte with cream.
Nutritionist and campaign lead at Action on Sugar, Dr Kawther Hashem, described the findings as “shocking” and said that high street cafes and coffee shops were putting the health of their customers at risk. A survey conducted by Action on Sugar in 2019 found that Caffe Nero’s salted caramel hot chocolate contained 503 calories and almost 15 teaspoons of sugar. Dr Hashem explained that the average person would have to spend 90 minutes on a cross trainer to burn off the calories.
High sugar intake is linked to elevated risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental issues, including gum disease and tooth decay. As the festive season approaches, dentists are eager to encourage people to take care of their teeth and try to avoid snacking between meals and indulging on too many sweet treats.
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