Festive drinks sugar warning: worst Christmas coffee shop offenders uncovered

Experts have uncovered the worst Christmas coffee shop drink offenders – with some containing double the recommended daily sugar intake of 30g a day.

During Christmas time it’s common for coffee shops, fast food chains and more to put on a festive menu.

Seasonal lattes and hot chocolates are a popular treat for those trying to get in a festive mood.

But now experts have issued a warning about the high sugar content in these drinks.

Dieticians at The Hospital Group have analysed the festive menus from the UK’s favourite coffee chains and highlighted the top 10 sugary drinks.

They found that Pret a Manger’s Mint Hot Chocolate and Hazelnut Hot Chocolate contained a whopping 47.9g in a regular serving. This is the equivalent of 3.2 mince pies.

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Below are the top 10 most sugar filled drinks:

• Mint Hot Chocolate – Pret a Manger – 47.9g sugar

• Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – Pret a Manger – 47.9 sugar

• Mint Mocha – Greggs – 46g sugar

• Mint Hot Chocolate – Greggs – 46g sugar

• Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 38.8g sugar

• Hazelnut Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 38.2g sugar

• Toasted Marshmallow Hot Chocolate – Starbucks – 36.7g sugar

• Ginger Hot Chocolate – Caffé Nero – 35.8g sugar

• Egg Nog Latte – Starbucks – 33.8g sugar

• Hazelnut Praline & Cream Frostino – Costa Coffee – 33.2g sugar

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Nutritionist Holly Gabriel, from Action on Sugar, said the findings were “shocking”.

She continued: “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.”

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Starbucks said: “We are committed to reducing sugar in all our beverages and since 2015 we’ve delivered a 9% reduction in the sugar content of our gingerbread and core syrup of vanilla, caramel and hazelnut.”

The lowest calorie festive drink which was found was Costa’s Hot Spiced Apple drink, with only 75 calories.

But be wary, as this one still contains 16.3g of sugar.

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George Hamlyn-Williams, Principal Dietitian at The Hospital Group, said: “A Grande Toffee Nut latte from Starbucks made with semi-skimmed milk contains a whopping 345kcal (the same as a Pain au Chocolat) and four teaspoons of added sugar!

“Whilst swapping to skimmed milk may seem an angelic move, it will actually only save you 50kcals.

“Similarly, a Medio semi-skimmed latte from Costa will only set you back 146kcal whereas treating yourself to a semi-skimmed Irish Velvet & Cream Latte will mean your calories soar to 360kcal – the same as their Ham & Emmenthal Croissant!

“We like to treat ourselves occasionally, but maybe think about asking them to hold the cream or maybe ask for a sugar-free syrup as well as opting for skimmed milk?”

• Greggs
• Starbucks
• Christmas

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