Hidden sugar in supermarket coffee and milkshakes ranked as expert gives dire warning

Your favourite or grab-and-go iced latte could soon cost more as the government considers expanding the sugar tax to include sweetened milk-based drinks.

The move would extend the current Soft Drinks Industry Levy, commonly known as the “”, beyond fizzy pop to products like bottled frappés, chocolate milkshakes, and pre-packaged plant-based alternatives made with oat, almond, or rice milk.

The idea is part of a new consultation launched by the government, aimed at tackling childhood obesity and spiralling costs linked to diet-related illness. One nutritionist insists we should be extending the sugar tax to cover these kinds of drinks.

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Speaking to the , nutritionist Jodie Brandman says: "When we add sugar to a drink and avoid the whole chewing process, it raises our blood sugar really rapidly, and is a huge problem for our health.

"Milkshakes and sugary coffees are basically liquid sugar, and drinking them can affect insulin, cause inflammation in the body, affect our other hormones, and our gut bacteria."

Jodie insists "no-one should be consuming them", adding: "Anything that is a milkshake is just a no go, but the coffees need to be checked. Most packaged ones contain sugar and especially anything with added flavours or syrups. The sugar tax should definitely cover these products."

Here, we take a look at the sugar content in some of your favourite pre-packaged products at the local supermarket.

Starbucks frappes

Starbucks has a whole range of products in the supermarket - from their famous frappuccinos to more traditional iced lattes. And with most of them included in meal deals, it can be easy to grab one while on the go.

Their Caramel Frappuccino Flavoured Milk Iced Coffee comes in at 23.5g of sugar for the 250ml bottle. As a comparison, a 330ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35g of sugar.

Their Grande 330ml Caramel Macchiato Flavoured Milk Iced Coffee has around 28.71g of sugar. But the popular chain also offer a 'No Added Sugar' version of their famous Frappucinos. Their Frappuccino Coffee Drink Indulgent Caramel Flavour 250ml comes in at just 9g of sugar.

Shaken Udder milkshakes

Shaken Udder is a popular milkshake brand sold at most offers a variety of flavoured milks. Each 250ml serving size has 21 g of sugar, and its Vanilla shake has 21g of sugar.

Their chocolate shake has 8.4g of sugar per 100ml, meaning a 330ml serving comes in at 27.7g of sugar.

Yazoo milkshakes

Yazoo is another popular milkshake brand, having first been established in 1981. The milkshake has been a staple across the UK, with dozens of schools selling them in canteens for years before they cut them out in favour of healthier options.

In a 200ml carton of Yazoo Chocolate Milk, there are 17.6g of sugar. That means for a larger 400ml bottle, there is 35.2g of sugar - bringing it on par with a can of Coca-Cola.

Emmi Caffe Latte

Another famous brand sold in meal deals across is Emmi, specialising in various iced lattes. Their Cappuccino Iced Coffee comes in at 20.2g of sugar per 230ml.

But the brand also has a 'Skinny' option, coming in at a significantly less 9.2g of sugar per 230ml. The company also offer different variations, including different flavours and even a 'Protein' option.

Nescafe

As well as instant coffee, Nescafe also offer pre-packaged iced coffee sold in 750ml bottles. Their standard Iced Coffee Latte Multiserve comes in at 10.5g of sugar per 250ml serving, making it significantly lower than some of its competitors.

Their caramel option also has similar values, with a 250ml serving coming in at 10.6g of sugar.

Ranked from best to worst

Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink Indulgent Caramel Flavour at 9g sugar per serving

Emmi Skinny Caffe Latte at 9.2g sugar per serving

Nescafe Iced Coffee Latte Multiserve at 10.6g sugar per serving

Yazoo Chocolate Milk Carton at 17.6g of sugar per serving

Emmi Cappuccino Iced Coffee at 20.2g of sugar per serving

Shaken Udder Vanilla Milkshake at 21g of sugar per serving

Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino Flavoured Milk Iced Coffee at 23.5g of sugar per serving

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