‘Healthy’ smoothies that have more sugar than a can of Coke

FOR those who struggle to reach their five a day, smoothies offer a tasty way to consume fruit and veg with minimal effort.

But they are often laden with sugar – with some containing up to 2.4g more than Coca-Cola per 100ml.

Innocent’s Pomegranate Magic smoothie is among the worst offenders, a Channel 4 Supershoppers investigation revealed. Health-conscious shoppers are told the blend of pomegranate, blueberry and acai is made from the ‘world’s finest super fruits’.

But shockingly, one recommended serving of 250ml contains 33g of sugar – 3g more than an adult’s entire recommended daily intake in a single glass. Per 100ml, the drink contains 13g of sugar.

This is more than 100ml of CocaCola, made from sweetened carbonated water, which contains 10.6g. Many juices also claim to provide of us with valuable vitamins and minerals, boasting of their multiple benefits.

Other ‘healthy’ smoothies that contain more sugar than fizzy drinks include Naked’s Green Machine and Blue Machine smoothies. These contain 11g of sugar per 100ml. And Tropicana’s Vitality and Berry Boost juices also have 0.4g more than Coke.

Dietitian Anna Daniels warned consumers to be mindful of how much smoothie they are drinking as ‘before they know it’ they have got through half a carton. Miss Daniels also said we should not be duped by bold claims on the packaging, adding: ‘You can get the nutrients from your diet alone.’

Ratula Chakraborty, professor of business management at the University of East Anglia, said brands started using words such as ‘vitality’ and ‘superfood’ as they strived to appeal to shoppers worried about their health. She said marketers ‘know exactly where to get us’ by using enticing buzzwords.

A spokesman for Innocent said: ‘We don’t add any sugar to our drinks – the only sugar present is naturally found in the fruit.’

PepsiCo, which owns Naked and Tropicana, said its products also contained only ‘naturally occurring sugars’ and told customers to stick to a 150ml serving.

Supershoppers airs next Thursday on Channel 4 at 8pm.