High street chain Starbucks has been blasted for selling a hot chocolate for children that contains five teaspoons of sugar.
The 236ml drink, topped with whipped cream, contains 20.1g of sugar – more than the recommended daily intake for four to six year olds (19g).
The hot beverage also could be detrimental for seven to 10 year olds, who are meant to have no more than 24g of sugar each day, under Government guidelines.
It comes just days after Starbucks, which has around 350 stores in the UK, promised to slash the use of sugar and change the face of eating out.
The 236ml drink, topped with whipped cream, contains 20.1g of sugar – more than the recommended daily intake for four to six year olds (19g)

The hot beverage also could be detrimental for seven to 10 year olds, who are meant to have no more than 24g of sugar each day, under Government guidelines
The Seattle-founded firm was one of dozens to pledge to cut sugar in their food and drink by 20 per cent in the next two years.
The move is designed to meet targets set by watchdogs at Public Health England (PHE) as part of the Childhood Obesity Plan.
The new revelation, made by The Sun, suggests more needs to be done to combat sugar-laden products, especially those aimed at children.
Nutritional information on the firm’s website doesn’t show any information for the ‘Kids’ hot chocolate.
However, when visiting the UK version of the firm’s website, it is listed as a possible option underneath the ‘Classic Hot Chocolate’ range.
It is the same size as a ‘Short’ and also contains semi-skimmed milk and two pumps of Mocha sauce.
Extras such as a marshmallow or flake can be added to the drink, which is already 215 calories, the newspaper reports.
Campaigners have blasted the firm for targeting children with the sugar-laden treat, which is popular on a cold winter’s day.
A spokesman for the British Dental Association said: ‘Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children.
‘We urgently require industry to play its role in weaning Britain off its addiction to sugar.’
A Starbucks spokesman said: ‘We offer ways to reduce sugar, including no whipped cream.’
Official statistics released last year showed that children eat the equivalent of 20 chocolate chip cookies’ worth of sugar every day.
The vast majority of the sugar children eat is hidden in common foods such as cereals and soft drinks, making it hard for parents to control what they consume.
The Public Health England figures showed the average 11 to 18-year-old consumes 73.2 grams of sugar a day – roughly 18 teaspoons.
These worrying figures prompted new guidance, released earlier this month, that said children should be allowed just two low-calories snack a day.
The Government agency’s guidance came as it warned that the average child eats almost 400 biscuits each year – which could make them fat.