Your Starbucks cake could have more sugar than 5 Krispy Kremes
UPDATE: Dec. 6, 2016, 2:54 p.m. GMT Statement from Starbucks
LONDON -- Cakes sold at leading coffee shops could contain "staggering high levels" of sugar with some containing as much as 18 teaspoons per slice -- according to new research.
The research was conducted by the campaign group Action on Sugar (AoS) at Queen Mary University of London. It surveyed 67 cakes from 157 UK coffee shops and supermarkets.
SEE ALSO:Your morning coffee could contain up to 25 teaspoons of sugarData on the product's nutritional information -- found on labels and brand websites -- were used by researchers to compare sugar content on servings of "fruity cakes".
The worst offenders
According to AoS, among the worst offenders was Starbucks' Christmas Carrot Cake with 15 teaspoons of sugar (616kcal) per 146g serving -- which equates to "more sugar than five Krispy Kremes".
Pret a Manger's Lemon Drizzle slice which contains a 18 teaspoons of sugar per 172g slice, which equates to "more sugar than six Krispy Kremes" and contains nearly 700 calories.
Pret a Manger's Double Berry muffins -- which weigh 145g -- contain 10 teaspoons of sugar (512kcal) per serving.
A Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut contains 12.6g sugar and 200 calories.
The news comes as the government publishes legislation imposing a tax on soft drinks.Credit: Westend61 Images / AP Images'Extraordinary' findings
The findings come as the government publishes "sugar tax" legislation which will see a levy imposed on drinks containing more than 8g of sugar per 100ml. The tax will be imposed on soft drinks manufacturers, rather than on consumers.
Graham MacGregor, professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, told Mashablethat the findings were "extraordinary".
"It's partly caused by the serving sized used in coffee shops. But, these cakes contain a lot of calories and a hell of a lot of sugar," MacGregor said.
When asked about the accuracy of the findings, MacGregor said the data used comes from manufacturers' labels or websites, which are "very tightly controlled", but the ingredients cited "may vary by very small amounts".
Action needed
The campaign group is urging food manufacturers and cafes to reduce the amounts of sugar in products
"This country has one of the worst rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Europe. It's time the government took action," MacGregor said.
MacGregor says that retailers and cafes must immediately start reducing the amounts of sugar and calories in these products.
1000 calories in one sitting
"Considering most people are likely to buy a hot beverage to eat with their cake, it’s far too easy to visit a coffee shop and consume the best part of 1000 calories in one sitting," Kawther Hashem, AoS researcher, said in a statement emailed to Mashable.
"Everyone should be able to enjoy cake, but there is no need for just one slice to exceed an adult’s maximum daily recommendation of sugar by almost three times," Hashem continued.
A spokesperson for Pret a Manger told Mashablethat the Lemon Drizzle cake in question has been on trial in several regional shops.
After the trial -- which ends next week -- the cake slices will no longer be available. "We will revert back to only selling smaller, individual cake portions, instead of these larger slices," the spokesperson said.
"The calorie information for our cakes continues to be displayed in shops, and the full nutritional information is available on our website," the spokesperson continued.
A spokesperson for Starbucks told Mashablethat Starbucks is committed to working towards reducing sugar content by 2020, in line with Public Health England's targets.
"We display nutritional information on our bakery labels and website to help our customers make informed choices," the spokesperson said in an email to Mashable.
"We are working on a reduced-calorie and sugar Carrot Cake recipe, with plans to launch around Spring next year," the spokesperson continued.
Featured Video For You
Coffee with 80 times more caffeine than normal packs a serious punch
TopicsHealth
-
PS5 Pro: It looks like a sketch of the design just leakedUN grants sanctions exemption for interWhat's with this random goat on a roof?技能升级!江门市“三支一扶”人员红色加速营(支医)培训开班14 Heists, Robberies, and Other Great CapersDonald Trump: Tax system is letting hedge funds “Get Away With Murder”‘Mean Girls’ on Broadway is fun and fetch: ReviewApple Vision Pro becomes more social with spatial PersonasHow to trademark your TikTok phrase and protect your brandU.S. gives Shell permit to drill for oil in Arctic Ocean off Alaska.
下一篇:Korea's economy to stop growing without drastic labor change: FKI
- ·实干担当抓落实 多措并举促发展
- ·Meta briefly blocked a local news organization critical of Facebook
- ·South Korea, Australia to extend free English program for young North Korea defectors
- ·[Graphic News] More than 8 in 10 foreigners have positive image of Korea
- ·Wordle today: The answer and hints for August 27
- ·Critics are in love with 'God of War': Review roundup
- ·When Kim Kardashian returns to social media, it will be very different
- ·Donald Trump: Tax system is letting hedge funds “Get Away With Murder”
- ·The Measurers
- ·The internet is more appalled with Donald Trump than ever before
- ·UN grants sanctions exemption for inter
- ·中国人寿四川省分公司总经理郎中伟当选2013中国保险年度经理人
- ·Yes, big spiders are spreading in the U.S. No, they're not flying.
- ·Apple Vision Pro becomes more social with spatial Personas
- ·Echo Pop Kids deal: $27.99 at Amazon
- ·Bear pool party! In New Jersey!
- ·Naver, Kakao strive to combat deepfake porn spreading online
- ·North Korea 'exports' more workers to China, Russia
- ·Ministry demands Japan's 'evidence' to refute its low
- ·North Korea 'significantly' expands key missile base: CNN
- ·Top 10 Tech Pranks
- ·iPad 2024: 2 new models tipped to drop soon — and may come with this iPhone feature
- ·Amazon Pharmacy launches same
- ·Palmsy is an anti
- ·When will Trump and Harris debate? The presidential campaigns snipe over ABC News’ rules.
- ·Djokovic beats Thiem in five sets to win eighth Australian Open
- ·CrowdStrike outage is still causing hundreds of flight cancellations daily
- ·Demolition of silo goes wrong way, accidentally falling on library
- ·4名嫌疑人持假币购物被依法刑事拘留
- ·Apple Vision Pro becomes more social with spatial Personas
- ·Aricell CEO arrested in first case under industrial accidents law
- ·How to undermine ISIS with one simple trick: Target the jihadist recruiters with this Internet scam.
- ·Scores of Migrants Found Dead in a Truck in Austria. Why Is Anyone Surprised?
- ·高温来袭 哪些保险得买单?
- ·高燃!哨响表停赛不止,2024广东“村BA”开赛在即,一分钟带你重温高光瞬间。
- ·South Korea, Australia to extend free English program for young North Korea defectors