The new research from Action on Sugar shows that 98% of the 131 hot flavoured drinks analysed would receive a ‘red’ (high) label for excessive levels of sugars per serving as sold.
Over a third (35%) of the host flavoured drinks contain the same amount or more sugars than Coca Cola, which contains nine teaspoons of sugar per can.
The worst offender is the Starbuck’s hot mulled fruit - grape with chai, orange and cinnamon venti (extra-large) – a mix of chai and fruit concentrate, topped with a cinnamon stick and a slice of orange – which contains 25 teaspoons of sugar (that’s the equivalent of sugar in 5 muffins), followed by Costa Coffee’s chai latte (large) with 20 teaspoons of sugar.
Professor Graham MacGregor, chair of Action on Sugar, said: “This is yet again another example of scandalous amount of sugar added to our food and drink. No wonder we have the highest rates of obesity in Europe.
“Cameron now has all the evidence to make the UK the first country in the world to stop the obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic. To do this Cameron has to be radical and follow every single action that we have set out in our comprehensive plan (see below). Otherwise it will be the final nail in an already bankrupt NHS.”
From the entire out-of-home hot drinks surveyed, over half (55%) contain the equivalent, or more than, the maximum daily recommended amount of sugars for an adult and teenager (30g - 7tsp/d).
When it comes to hot drinks that are perceived to be ‘healthy’, a Starbuck’s chai tea latte venti (extra-large) contains 13 teaspoons of sugar per serving alongside Eat’s chai latte big and matcha latte big at 11 teaspoons.
A spokesperson for Starbucks said: “Earlier this year we committed to reduce added sugar in our indulgent drinks by 25% by the end of 2020. We also offer a wide variety of lighter options, sugar-free syrups and sugar-free natural sweetener and we display all nutritional information in-store and online."
A Costa spokesperson added: "Costa takes the nutritional balance of our food and drink very seriously and we have already taken significant steps to reduce the sugar content of our ranges. We intend to continue improving the balance of our product offerings while maintaining the high quality and great taste our customers expect. This April we will be setting salt and sugar reduction targets for 2020.”
For the study hot drinks were surveyed from UK coffee chains and fast food outlets - Caffe Nero, Starbucks, Costa, KFC, Greggs, McDonalds, Eat, Leon and Pret a Manger. To read the full data breakdown, click here.