CHOC FULL OF SUGAR

COFFEE SPECIALS ‘SO UNHEALTHY’

SALTED CARAMEL BROWNIE HOT CHOCOLATE (GRANDE)

OUR top coffee chains have been blasted for packing their festive drinks with mammoth amounts of sugar.

Christmas offerings from Costa Coffee and Starbucks are revealed to contain up to 12 teaspoons of it in a single serving.

Critics say the coffee giants are partly to blame for Britain being the fattest nation in Western Europe.

The NHS recommends a daily limit of seven teaspoons of sugar, or 30g, for anyone aged over 11.

But Daily Star Sunday research shows scores of seasonal specials from high street chains contain up to a day and a half ’s sugar in one drink.

At Starbucks, a tall serving of Salted Caramel Brownie Hot Chocolate with semi-skimmed milk contains a massive nine teaspoons of sugar – or 38.3g. This rockets to almost 12 teaspoons of sugar (49.3g) if customers opt for a grandesized drink. A tall Christmas Brûlée Latte contains nine teaspoons (37.8g) of sugar. That rises to 11 teaspoons (46.7g) as a grande.

And a Yule Log Frappuccino packs a hefty seven teaspoons of sugar (29.6g) in a tall serving, and 10.5 teaspoons (44.2g) in a grande serving.

At Costa Coffee, a medium Gingerbread & Cream Latte Hot Chocolate with skimmed milk contains seven teaspoons of sugar (30g).

A spokeswoman for the British Dental Association said: “These global coffeehouse chains should be weaning us off our addiction to sugar instead of developing drinks that far exceed the maximum daily dose.

“Consuming large quantities of sugar not only fuels tooth decay but has contributed to Britain being the fattest nation in Western Europe.”

A spokesman for Starbucks said their seasonal range offered customers both lighter options and “more indulgent treats”. A spokesman for Costa Coffee said: “We’re committed to providing customers with informed, balanced choice.” DAILY STAR SUNDAY SAYS

– PAGE 6