Hidden sugar content of children's fruit juices revealed

Some children’s juices that are considered healthy contain unnecessary levels of sugar and calories, contributing to tooth decay, type two diabetes and obesity, according to a new survey by Action on Sugar.

The study calls for parents to offer their children whole fruit or water instead of juices.

Over 200 products were surveyed, including fruit juice, juice drinks and smoothies and more than 25 per cent contained more or the same amount of sugars as Coca Cola, which contains the equivalent of 10.6 grams of sugars per 100mls.

Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of Action on Sugar, said: "It is a complete scandal that these drinks are marketed to children and parents as if they are ‘healthy’: this has to stop. We need to stop Britain’s childhood obesity epidemic spiralling out of control."

A 2012 report by the NHS revealed that one fifth of children aged four to five and one third of children aged ten to eleven were considered to be overweight. A further report revealed there were 25,000 cases of children aged five to nine being admitted to hospital with tooth decay.

When speaking about the medical implications of regular consumption of fruit juice and smoothies, Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist for Action on Sugar highlighted the increased risk of developing type two diabetes and heart disease.

The Action on Sugar survey revealed more than half of the drinks surveyed would receive a red label in relation to the Department of Health’s guide to creating a front of pack (FoP) nutrition label for pre-packed products sold in retail outlets.

The guide uses the traffic light labelling system and labels are applied per 100ml and 200mls.

The survey by Action on Sugar revealed that one quarter of children’s juices could contain a minimum of six teaspoons of sugar per 200ml serving.

Fruit juices defined as 100 per cent pure fruit juice made from fresh fruit, whole fruit or the flesh of a fruit are not permitted to contain added sugars, preservatives, flavourings, sweeteners and colourings.

Whilst smoothies are recognised as containing crushed and pureed fruit, any smoothies labelled as ‘fruit juice’ are not permitted to contain any other ingredients.

Juice drinks are any drinks that contain 1 to 99 per cent juice, such as nectars, still flavoured waters, iced teas and sports drinks.

Action on Sugar’s campaign director, Katharine Jenner said: “Our advice is to eat the fruit, don’t drink the juice. Juice should be an occasional treat, not an ‘everyday’ drink. These processed drinks are laden with sugar and calories and do not have the nutritional benefits of fresh fruit and vegetables.”

Current NHS guidelines indicate that one 150ml glass of unsweetened 100 per cent fruit juice can be counted as one of your five a day but any further glasses do not count.

Nutritionist, Kawther Hashem for Action on Sugar, added: “It is highly concerning that many parents are still buying fruit juices and juice drinks for their children thinking they are choosing healthy products; children should be given as little juice as possible.”

Fruit eaten whole is sweet and naturally high in fibre and vitamins but when fruit is processed into juice more calories and sugars are consumed as it takes a number of fruit to produce one glass of juice.

Ms Hashem added: “What is more concerning are the products with added sugar and glucose-fructose syrup. We call on all manufacturers to stop adding more sugars to already sweet juices, particularly in children’s products.”

Action on Sugar is asking that parents allow their children to have water or whole pieces of fruit instead of juice, as well as campaigning for manufacturers to limit the amount of sugars in their drinks.