UK high street iced coffees contain more than recommended daily intake of sugar, study warns

03 Jul 2023 --- New analysis from consumer organization Which? has revealed that iced coffee beverages from high street coffee chains contain “significant” amounts of sugar, with many “regular-sized” or medium drinks easily exceeding the maximum recommended daily sugar intake for adults and having higher levels than a chocolate bar or a soft drink.

The consumer champion compared frappès and frappuccinos from three of the biggest coffee chains – Caffe Nero, Costa and Starbucks – and found many had “exceptionally high sugar levels.”

“Our analysis of sugar content in iced coffee blends shows people could unwittingly be consuming much more sugar than they realize, with potentially damaging implications for their health,” says Shefalee Loth, a nutritionist at Which?. 

“High street chains need to take more responsibility and reduce the excessive sugar content of some of their drinks to protect people’s health.”

“When buying an iced drink, there are alternative, healthier options, such as a standard iced coffee, which contains far less sugar,” she notes. 

Mars bar or can of Coke
One of the unhealthiest options the consumer champion found was a Starbucks caramel frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk, containing 48.5 g of sugar – 12 teaspoons’ worth. 

Syrups, often used in frappés, are exempt from the sugar tax.NHS health advice suggests a maximum of 30 g or around seven teaspoons of free sugar daily.

A Caffe Nero Belgian chocolate and hazelnut frappè crème contained 44.5 g of sugar – the equivalent of 11 teaspoons. 

Costa also fared badly, with a Chocolate fudge brownie frappè mocha with oat milk amounting to 42.6 g of sugar, or 10.5 teaspoons. 

For comparison, a 51 g Mars chocolate bar contains 31 g of sugar, working out at 7.5 teaspoons, while a 330 ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35 g of sugar, which works out at around 8.5 teaspoons. 

Consumers would likely think plain coffee flavor frappès and frappuccinos would be healthier, but while they contain less sugar, their levels are still relatively high. For example, a Costa Coffee frappè with skimmed milk contains 21.3g of sugar.

Calorie and sugar levels 
By law, the calorie content of these drinks needs to be displayed in store. All restaurants with more than 250 employees must display calorie labeling for all food and beverages. However, the sugar content does not need to be displayed, so consumers are at risk of unwittingly exceeding the maximum recommended daily intake of free sugars.

Meanwhile, for dairy-based drinks, at least some of the sugar content comes from lactose, all also contain high amounts of free sugars. Free sugars are added sugars and those found naturally in syrups, honey and fruit juice. 

If consumers want to cut their sugar intake but still enjoy an iced brew, a simple switch is to opt for iced versions of a standard coffee instead. These are typically unblended and involve a shot of coffee mixed with milk (or dairy-free alternative) and ice cubes in a cup, such as an iced americano or latte. These contain much less sugar because they do not contain added sugar – or the sugary syrups used for frappès and frappuccinos.

For instance, in Starbucks, an iced americano contains just 0.2 g of sugar, whereas an iced cappuccino with skimmed milk has 8.5 g, the equivalent of 2 teaspoons of sugar. At Costa, an iced flat white with semi-skimmed milk contains 11.2 g of sugar, which is 2.5 g teaspoons. This is sugar found naturally in cow’s milk and does not count toward free sugar intake. 

Clamping down on sugar 
In 2018 the government introduced a Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), known as the sugar tax, in a bid to clamp down on high sugar levels in drinks. 

Some drinks are exempt from the tax – including fruit juices and drinks made on-site and served in open cups. Syrups, often used in frappés, are also exempt. This means these iced coffees are exempt, even though they contain more sugar than other drinks that are subject to it.

If consumers were to purchase a drink in a shop, all nutritional information would be labeled clearly, including its sugar content. However, only displaying the number of calories is legally required in coffee shops.

Edited by Elizabeth Green