Physical Wellness

How Much Sugar Does your Starbucks Drink Have?

By Kanika Gupta | Update Date: Feb 22, 2016 09:54 AM EST

Flavored beverages served by Starbucks and the likes can contain as much as 25 teaspoons of sugar per serving, as per a report by British Campaign Group Action on Sugar. This staggering number is three times more than the one found in a can of coke. It is also three times more than the recommended adult intake by the American Heart Association.

The report also said that 98% of flavored beverages served at major coffee chains in U.K. have high levels of sugar per serving. 35% of the drinks served may contain as many as 9 teaspoons of sugar or more, as reported by CNN

While the research was conducted in U.K., as per the nutritional information published on company website, the sugar levels are same in the U.S. as anywhere else in the world.

Action on Sugar is a "a group of specialists concerned with sugar and its effects on health."

The advisers onboard the group consists of doctors, nutritionists and also public health specialists, says CBS News

For the purpose of the campaign, they examined 131 hot drinks, such as flavored lattes, mulled fruit drinks and mocha coffees. In the survey, they took bi coffee shops and food chains under their fold including Costa, Starbucks and Pret-a-Manager. The group also works against the sugar that is hidden in our everyday food. They also organize awareness week that helps people in reducing their amount of sugar intake.

As per the report, the worst hit was hot mulled fruit grape with chai, orange and cinnamon by Starbucks that recorded about 25 teaspoons of sugar in each serving.

Starbucks clarified that they are working towards reducing the added sugar content in its drinks by 25% by 2020. "We also offer a wide variety of lighter options, sugar-free syrups and sugar-free natural sweetener and we display all nutritional information in-store and online," a Starbucks spokesperson said, reports Business Insider

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