THERE is more sugar in a single glass of some squash than in a Cadbury’s Curly Wurly, analysis by The Sun reveals.
Rose’s Lime Juice Cordial and Teisseire Grenadine Le Sirop contain a whopping 12g per portion – more than double a child’s recommended daily intake.
Ribena is also sickly sweet, with 10.5g in each 250ml diluted serving.
Nutritionists fear this is fuelling the UK’s obesity crisis and contributing to alarming levels of tooth decay – particularly among children.
Advanced nutrition coach Nele Wessels said: “Drinks with 12g of sugar per serving may contribute to excessive sugar intake, which can have negative health effects.
“It’s advisable to limit the consumption of high-sugar squash and choose those with lower sugar content for better health.”
Adults should consume no more than 30g of free sugars a day – roughly equivalent to seven sugar cubes, according to government guidelines.
Children aged seven to 10 are advised to stick below 24g, and the limit is even lower (19g) for kids aged four to six.
There’s no suggested maximum for youngsters under four, but parents are urged to avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and foods with added sugar.
“Eating too much sugar can contribute to people having too many calories, which can lead to weight gain,” the NHS warns.
Being overweight increases your risk of health problems such as heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes.
Sugar is also one of the main causes of tooth decay, which is the top reason for hospital admission in under-18s.
The health service says sugary squash has “no place in a child’s daily diet” – and yet thousands of kids guzzle these drinks every day.
Nele added: “Parents should be mindful of providing children with squash options that contain essential nutrients important for their growth and development.
“Sugar-free squash can be a better choice to avoid excessive sugar intake while still delivering some beneficial vitamins.
“If available though, fresh fruit juices are always the better option.”
‘Excessively sweet’
Analysis of the ingredients of 25 of the top squashes in British supermarkets revealed Rose’s Lime Juice Cordial to be the worst offender.
A single 250ml glass of the stuff contains 12g of sugar – more than a Cadbury’s Curly Wurly, which contains 11g.
It is also more than a two-finger KitKat (10.2g) and a 14.1g bag of Cadbury’s Chocolate Buttons (8.1g), and almost twice the 6.3g in a small Milkybar White Chocolate.
In second place was Teisseire Grenadine Le Sirop, which has the same amount of sugar but 17 fewer calories at 36 per portion.
And Ocean Spray Juice Drink Cranberry took third place, with 11.4g.
How much sugar is too much?
ALMOST everyone in the UK is eating too much sugar.
Adults are told to have no more than 30g of free sugars a day – equivalent to about seven sugar cubes – while kids aged seven to 10 should be limited to 24g or six cubes.
Children aged four to six should consume a maximum of 19g (or five cubes), and youngsters under four should avoid sugar-sweetened foods and drinks altogether.
But many Brits are devouring far too much and putting themselves at risk of tooth decay and obesity, which increases your risk of serious health problems like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.
To be healthy, most calories should come from starchy carbohydrates (like potatoes, rice or pasta), fruits and vegetables, protein sources (like beans, fish, eggs and meat), and dairy (such as milk and yoghurt).
Foods high in sugar, salt and fat should be eaten less often and in small amounts, according to the Eatwell Guide.
Added sugars, such as granulated sugar, honey and syrups, should make up no more than five per cent of your daily calories.
Something is considered to be high in sugar if it contains 22.5g or more per 100g. It is low if this number is 5g or less.
Source: NHS
Also high on the list was Vimto Original Squash (11g) and Ribena Blackcurrant Squash (10.5g).
Bottlegreen Cordial Elderflower (4.4g), Rocks Summer Fruit Whole Fruit Squash (4.3g), Belvoir Elderflower Cordial (4.2g) all sat in the mid-range.
At the other end of the scale, with the least amount of sugar, was Robinsons Double Strength Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash and Robinsons Fruit Creations Peach & Raspberry Squash – both with 0g.
Stockwell & Co Apple & Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash from Tesco (0.1g), Swizzels Refreshers Lemon No Added Sugar Squash (0.2g), and Morrisons No Added Sugar Orange Double Concentrate Squash (0.3g) also scored low.
Unsurprisingly, the squash that contained the most sugar also had the highest calorie content.
But it’s important to note that while lower in sugar and calories, the sugar-free options contained sweeteners and preservatives.
These were primarily acesulfame K and sucralose, and potassium sorbate (E202), sodium benzoate (E211), sodium metabisulphite (E223) and sodium bisulphite (E222) respectively.
These are all recognised as safe to consume, but some researchers are finding they could have negative side effects, such as weight gain, dental erosion, inflammation, and disruption of the gut microbiome.
Cancer Research UK has said sweeteners do not cause cancer.
Parents should be mindful of providing children with squash.
Nele Wessels
Only three out of the 25 – Teisseire Grenadine Le Sirop, Bottlegreen Cordial Elderflower and Rocks Summer Fruit Whole Fruit Squash – contained no sweeteners or preservatives.
Nele, founder of Naeo, urged Brits to drink squash in moderation.
“Incorporating squash with an emphasis on essential nutrients and vitamins, while being mindful of sugar content, can be part of a balanced and healthy lifestyle,” she said.
“Nevertheless, consumption should be in moderation and nutrients and minerals should mainly be obtained from fresh produce, while water should remain the mainstay for hydration.
“When opting for healthier squash options, look for varieties that not only provide hydration but also offer essential nutrients, like vitamin C, certain B vitamins and antioxidants, which can be beneficial in moderation, and no added sugar.
“These may include options with natural fruit extracts and added vitamins to enhance nutritional value.
“While squash may contribute to hydration and provide some vitamins, it’s crucial to ensure a well-rounded intake of nutrients from a variety of sources, including fresh fruits, vegetables and if needed, supplements.”