'Sugar overload' warning for festive hot drinks
Seasonal lattes and hot chocolates being sold by some High Street coffee chains can contain up to 23 spoonfuls of sugar per cup, a study has found.
Action on Sugar analysed more than 200 drinks and found "shockingly" large amounts of sugar in many of them.
Some were made using vegan-friendly alternatives to cow's milk.
The "venti" (a pint) Starbucks Signature Caramel Hot Chocolate made with oat milk but topped with whipped cream had the most.
It contains 23 teaspoons (93.7g) of sugar and 758 calories, which Action on Sugar says is as much as three cans of Coca-Cola or four white chocolate and strawberry muffins.
Next was Caffe Nero's Grande Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate made with skimmed milk - containing 15 teaspoons (nearly 60g) of sugar and 503 calories.
Third highest in sugar was a venti Starbucks Gingerbread Latte made with oat milk - containing 14 teaspoons (56.6g) of sugar and 523 calories - the same as 17 custard cream biscuits.
Some of the coffee chains included in the study say they offer a variety of low-sugar options to customers, as well as these more indulgent drinks.
Action on Sugar said consumers may be unknowingly opting for extra sugar because of a lack of labelling and the perception vegan options were healthier, when actually some shops used pre-sweetened alternatives to cow's milk.
Small substitutions can make a difference.
For example, if the Starbucks Gingerbread Latte is made with almond milk instead of oat milk, the sugar content goes down by 4.5 teaspoons (18g).
Action on Sugar assessed drinks from nine different chains; Caffe Nero, Starbucks, Costa, KFC, Greggs, McDonald's, Eat, Leon and Pret a Manger.
How much sugar should we eat?
Adults should have no more than 30g (around 7 teaspoons) of free sugars - sugars added to food or drinks - per day
Children aged 7 to 10 should have no more than 24g (6 teaspoons) per day
Children aged 4 to 6 should have no more than 19g (5 teaspoons) per day
There's no guideline limit for children under the age of 4, but it's recommended they avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and food with sugar added to it
Nutritionist Holly Gabriel, from Action on Sugar, said the findings were "shocking".
"Coffee shops and cafes need to take much greater steps to reduce the levels of sugar and portion sizes, promote lower sugar alternatives and stop pushing indulgent extras at the till."
A spokeswoman for Starbucks said that customers could customise the size of their drink, as well as asking for reduced fat milk and less or no cream.
"We are committed to reducing sugar in all our beverages and since 2015 we've delivered a 9% in the sugar content of our gingerbread and core syrup range of vanilla, caramel and hazelnut," the spokeswoman added.
Sweetened milk-based drinks are currently exempt from the UK sugar tax - a levy on manufacturers introduced by government as part of the child obesity strategy.
Look for the "carbohydrates (of which sugars)" figure in the nutrition label to see how much sugar the product contains for every 100g:
more than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g is high
5g of total sugars or less per 100g is low
Vocabulary
1. Levy
verb
impose (a tax, fee, or fine).
2. Indulgent
adjective
having or indicating a tendency to be overly generous to or lenient with someone.
3. Committed
adjective
feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; wholeheartedly dedicated.
4. Vegan
noun
a person who does not eat or use animal products.
5. Reduction
noun
the action or fact of making a specified thing smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Discussions
1. According to this article, which drink has the most amounts of sugar?
2. How consumers are unaware of the extra sugar contained in drinks?
3. What’s the recommended amounts of sugar intake per day?
4. How much sugars per gram is considered high?
5. Do you know the amounts of sugars that you take each day? What can you do to reduce the intake and have a healthy diet?
