New Starbucks coffee packs in 17tsps of sugar – more than FIVE Krispy Kremes
A STARBUCKS coffee with the equivalent of 17 teaspoons of sugar risks obesity and possibly Covid, says a nutritionist.
A large pumpkin spice frappuccino with oat milk contains 66.2 grams of sugar — double the recommended maximum daily allowance of 30g or seven teaspoons.
A large pumpkin spice latte with oat milk has 55.7g or 13 teaspoons. This drink would also set you back around 518 calories.
It comes as Public Health England (PHE) revealed that the mandatory sugary drinks tax - which is separate to the voluntary 20 per cent reduction target - is proving effective, with a 44 per cent fall in sugar.
Despite this - the report from PHE also found that sugar levels in chocolate and sweets are relatively unchanged while sales of these products have increased, growing 16 per cent and 7 per cent respectively between 2015 and 2019.
The PHE study said good progress was being made on milk-based drinks and fruit juices, but there were more mixed results for drinks such as milkshakes bought in cafes and restaurants.
The Starbucks drink is also a milk-based drink and has almost the same amount sugar in it as five Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
A traditional glazed doughnut has 12.6 grams of sugar and for five doughnuts you would be looking at 63 grams.
That's more than twice the daily allowance of seven teaspoons or 30 grams of a maximum sugar limit, as recommended by the NHS.
Or the same sugar content as almost one and a half Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate McFlurry’s from McDonald’s - at 45 grams per serving - or as much as two Mars Bars - 30.5 grams per 51 gram bar.
If you wanted a cold version of the drink then you could opt for the Frappucinno which would be 444 calories.
The sugar content can be reduced by consuming the coffee in a smaller serving and by changing the milk type.
Ordering the Pumpkin Spice Latte in a ‘grande’ size with skimmed milk reduces the sugar content to 39.7 grams or nine and half teaspoons of sugar - this would be 420 calories.
The same drink ordered in a ‘tall’ size reduces the sugar to 30.3 grams or seven teaspoons and if ordered in the smallest, with the calorie count at 322.
For ‘short’ size, the sugar falls to 18.9 grams or just four and a half teaspoons and 202 calories.
Other variations of the popular drink such as those suitable for vegans also contain worrying levels of sugar.
The same drink served in its smallest, ‘short’ serving, still contains 20.5 grams of sugar or almost five teaspoons of sugar with 181 calories.
Worrying levels
Action Sugar’s Holly Gabriel said: “Year on year we see drinks come to market with excessive levels of added sugar.
“Coffee chains should act more responsibly when people with obesity are significantly more likely to become seriously ill with Covid.”
She added: “These seasonal products appeal to children and families and are a contributor to excessive free sugar consumption.
“Unless companies start to take sugar reduction seriously we will continue to see high levels of children and adults living with obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, all of which are entirely preventable.
Government sugar plans 'flop' as chocolates and puddings get 'less healthy'
Health bosses want kids to consume 20 per cent less by 2020 as part of the war on obesity.
With one in three primary school leavers too tubby, officials demanded makers of popular sweet foods cut amounts in ten major food categories.
But puddings and chocolates now have even more sugar than the previous year.
The Public Health England study found:
- Sugar levels in chocolate and sweets are relatively unchanged while sales of these products have increased, growing 16 per cent and 7 per cent respectively between 2015 and 2019.
- Sales are also up for sweet spreads and sauces (up 12 per cent) and for ice cream, lollies and sorbets (8%).
- The mandatory sugary drinks tax - which is separate to the voluntary 20 per cent reduction target - is proving effective, with a 44 per cent fall in sugar.
- Only "marginal progress" has been made in reducing sugar in products bought in the eating out of home sector - such as cakes and puddings purchased from restaurants or cafes - although calories in these products have declined.
- Overall there has been hardly any change since 2015 in the calories in products likely to be consumed on a single occasion, for purchases made in shops and supermarkets. Puddings are mostly to blame, while sweets and biscuits have also seen a slight rise in calorie content.
- Overall there has been a 2.6 per cent increase in the tonnes of sugar sold in the products studied. The population also increased during this period, effectively meaning no change in the amount of sugar purchased per person.
Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, said: "Too much sugar is bad for our health and most of us are consuming more than we need, often without realising it.
"We've continued to see some progress in reducing sugar in a number of everyday food and drink products and this shows that success is possible through reformulation.
"Yet overall progress remains too slow. Faster and more robust action is needed to help us consume less sugar, which will help us become healthier and lower the economic burden of obesity and preventable pressure on the NHS."
“It is also ludicrous that these drinks aren’t eligible for the soft drinks industry levy, which could be raising funds to pay for vitally needed children’s health services right now.”
In 2016, as part of its childhood obesity drive, the Government challenged the food and hospitality industry to reduce sugar by 20% in foods that contribute most to children's sugar consumption.
To achieve this, firms could reduce sugar levels, reduce portion sizes or encourage customers to buy lower sugar products.
Targets were also set later for milk-based drinks and fruit juices.
Paul Evans of the British Obesity Society, said: “These seasonal pumpkin spiced lattes are a dentist’s nightmare containing well the recommended daily sugar limit for an adult.
“If you were to consume one of these every day over the working week, you'd have consumed 3,800 calories - more than a pound’s worth of ‘pumpkin spiced’ fat.
“Go for a coffee with semi skimmed milk instead... it's cheaper, healthier and you can keep your teeth.”
According to the PHE report, most adults and children in England consume more than double the maximum recommended daily amount of sugar.
Two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese and one in three children are overweight or obese by the time they start secondary school.
Public health minister Jo Churchill said: "On sugar reduction, particularly in products like breakfast cereals, yoghurts and ice cream, we have achieved some much-needed progress.
"This will make it easier for everyone to make healthier choices, but it's clear more can be done.
"Covid-19 has highlighted obesity and how important it is to tackle it.
"Our recent announcement of the obesity strategy includes world-leading measures such as a TV watershed for advertising food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar, and consulting on how we can introduce a ban online.
"If more action is needed to support individuals to lead a healthy life we will go further to help them."
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Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum, told us: "If Boris Johnson is serious about tackling obesity, banning such drinks must be a priority.
“The fact is, he talks a lot about what he is going to do yet does nothing to back up his words. Until he does, manufacturers will run riot with such unhealthy ingredients.”
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A spokeswoman for the chain, said: “Starbucks is committed to helping customers make informed and improved nutritional choices.
“Starbucks offers a range of beverage and food options and the option to customise in a number of ways, including no whipped cream or enjoying our smallest size, Short. Since 2017, we have also reformulated our “Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe to reduce its sugar content by 9%, as part of our ongoing commitment to sugar reduction.”
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