High street chains are selling iced coffees laced with more sugar than a Mars bar or can of Coke 

High street chains are selling iced coffees laced with more sugar than a Mars bar or can of Coke, research reveals.

Drinking even a single cooling frappe or Frappuccino from some outlets would exceed the total maximum recommended daily sugar intake for an adult.

A legal loophole means they are not covered by the sugar tax imposed on soft drinks, which is designed to combat the obesity epidemic. 

NHS health advice suggests a maximum of 30g – or around seven teaspoons of free sugar – a day.

However, a Starbucks caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk came in at 48.5g of sugar – equivalent to 12 teaspoons. A Caffe Nero Belgian chocolate and hazelnut frappe creme contained 44.5g of sugar – equivalent to 11 teaspoons.

However, a Starbucks caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk came in at 48.5g of sugar – equivalent to 12 teaspoons (file photo)

And at Costa, a chocolate fudge brownie frappe mocha with oat milk had 42.6g of sugar – 10.5 teaspoons.

By comparison, a standard 51g Mars chocolate bar comes in with 31g of sugar, equivalent to 7.5 teaspoons. And a 330ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35g of sugar – 8.5 teaspoons. 

Even the chains’ simple coffee flavour frappes are super-sweet. For example, a Costa Coffee frappe with skimmed milk contains 21.3g of sugar.

Labelling rules require restaurant chains with more than 250 employees to display calorie labelling, but this does not include the sugar content.

Which? nutritionist Shefalee Loth said: ‘Our analysis of sugar content in iced coffee blends shows people could unwittingly be consuming much more sugar than they realise, with potentially damaging implications for their health.

‘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 to choose.’

Starbucks said: ‘We are committed to helping customers make informed and improved choices, offering a range of customisation options such as choosing our smallest size (tall) and our oat dairy alternative with no added sugar.

‘Customers can find nutritional information on our mobile app, online and our menu boards.’

Costa and Caffe Nero responded to Which?’s request for comment by noting their drinks are not subject to the sugar tax.