COFFEE shop frappe drinks can contain up to 12 teaspoons of sugar — much more than even a Mars chocolate bar, research has found.
And regular drinkers are risking their health by busting the daily recommended sugar limit, experts warned.
GettyStarbucks is the worst offender for containing too much sugar in their frappuccinos[/caption]
Consumer magazine Which? compared frappes and frappuccinos from Caffe Nero, Costa and Starbucks.
The worst offender was Starbucks’ caramel frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk, containing 48.5g of sugar — or 12 teaspoons worth.
NHS health advice reckons adults should consume a maximum of 30g of sugar a day — around seven teaspoons.
Eating more than that can pile on weight, leading to a host of health problems.
Much of the sugar in these drinks comes from the syrups or fruit juice that are added.
Which? also found a Caffe Nero Belgian chocolate and hazelnut frappe creme contained 44.5g of sugar — 11 teaspoons.
And at Costa, a chocolate fudge brownie frappe mocha with oat milk included 42.6g of sugar, or 10.5 teaspoons.
In comparison, a 51g Mars bar has 31g of sugar, or 7.5 teaspoons, while a 330ml can of regular Coca-Cola contains 35g, or eight-and-a-half teaspoons.
While the calorie content of the drinks must be displayed in stores, the sugar content does not.
The sweet syrups are also exempt from the government’s sugar tax, introduced in 2018 to cut unhealthy consumption.
Which? nutritionist Shefalee Loth said: “High street chains need to take more responsibility and reduce the excessive sugar content of some of their drinks.
“When buying an iced drink, there are healthier options, such as a standard iced coffee, which contains far less sugar.”
Starbucks said it is “committed to helping customers make informed choices”.
Costa and Caffe Nero said their drinks are not subject to the sugar tax.