The government may extend the sugar tax to milkshakes and lattes sold in supermarkets as they look into high-sugar milky drinks, both dairy and plant-based, in a new scheme
Your favourite supermarket milkshake 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 “sugar tax”, 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 NHS 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 Mirror, 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 supermarkets. It 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 supermarkets 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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