Added sugar found in ‘pure’ coconut water
COCONUT water sold as a healthy alternative to fizzy juice and labelled “pure” was found to contain added sugar.
A probe by the Food Standard Agency’s specialist crime unit found 60 per cent of samples tested had sugar as an undeclared extra.
Coconut water, which is the drink of choice for stars from Madonna to Rihanna, is worth £100million in the UK. In a sting, the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit seized 400 tons of coconut water.
Of 12 samples tested, seven were positive for added sugar. Brands affected included Chi, Tropical Sun and Go Coco.
A Chi spokesman said: “We take the matter extremely seriously and have, since then, put in many checks to ensure our standards are met before the product leaves Asia.”