2023-07-01 23:50:19
1 hour ago
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Iced coffee from coffeehouse chains can contain more sugar than chocolate and soda, according to research from the consumer lobby group Which?
In the research, iced shake coffee from coffee chains Costa, Starbucks and Café Nero were compared, and the study concluded that it contained “exceptionally high” levels of sugar.
The National Health Service in Britain says that adults should not consume more than 30 grams of sugar per day, but one drink contains 48.5 grams.
Each company said it offered alternative options.
A Mars chocolate bar contains 31 grams of sugar, while a 330 ml bottle of Coca-Cola contains 35 grams.
The Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino, topped with semi-skimmed milk, contains 48.5 grams, the highest sugar content of all the drinks analyzed by Which?
A Starbucks spokeswoman said the company is committed to helping customers “make informed, improved choices,” and has offered beverage choices that allow the consumer to limit their sugar intake.
“The sugar content of our iced latte with semi-skimmed milk, one of our most popular drinks, starts at 8.7g for a small,” the spokeswoman added.
And the Café Nero chain’s Belgian Chocolate Cake and Strawberry Hazelnut Iced Coffee Drink contains 44.3 grams (or 11 teaspoons) of sugar.
Caffe Nero said that this drink is served as a kind of “dessert” and constitutes less than 5% of sales of summer drinks. The company said its iced latte, its highest selling product, contains no added sugar.
According to the study, a brownie-flavored iced coffee with oat milk added to coffee chain Costa Coffee contained 42.6 grams of sugar.
A spokeswoman for the company said it only offered “limited seasonal drinks, including our summer range of iced coffee shakes, in small and medium sizes”.
She added that she offered other drinks, some with less than 40 calories and two teaspoons of added sugar per can.
“All drinks can also be modified to reduce calorie or sugar content, including ordering skim milk and removing the additives, or downsizing the cup size to a smaller size,” she said.
In 2018 the government imposed a tax known as the “sugar tax”, which means that manufacturers pay tax on the high-sugar drinks they sell.
However, some drinks are exempt from the tax, including fruit juices and non-canned drinks in open cups. Concentrated beverages with different flavors, which are often used in iced coffee, are also exempted.
Dietician Shefali Luth of the group “Which?” Major coffee chains need to take more responsibility and reduce excessive sugar content in some of their drinks to protect people’s health.
She suggested “Which?” Consumers who want to reduce their sugar intake should drink regular coffee instead.
How much sugar should we eat?
According to Britain’s National Health Service, adults should have no more than 30g (regarding seven teaspoons) per day of free sugars, which are sugars added to food or drinks. Children between the ages of 7 and 10 should eat no more than 24 grams (six teaspoons) per day. Children ages 4 to 6 should eat no more than 19 grams (five teaspoons) per day. The health service says there is no guideline limit for children under the age of four, but it is recommended to avoid sugar-sweetened drinks. and foods with added sugar.
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