Why 'healthy' fruit juices should not count as part of your five a day

A recent study claims that some ‘healthy’ fruit juices have dangerously high level of sugar.

18:00 11 November 2014

A new study has found that a quarter of “healthy” fruit juices marketed at children had much sugar as Coca-Cola, with up to six teaspoons per 250ml glass.

The researchers analysed over 200 juices, smoothies, and fruit drinks sold on  the market and found that the worst offenders include Asda’s Chosen by Kids’ Tropical Juice From Concentrate, which contains 13g of sugar per 100ml and Tesco Goodness Slurper Apple & Banana Fruit Smoothie Snack for Kids, which contains 16.1g of sugar per 100ml. 

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 spiraling out of control.”

Meanwhile, Cardiologist Aseem Malhotra, warned that too much sugar intake is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. “Fruit juice and smoothies should not be part of a healthy balanced diet,” he advised.