The British Medical Journal is pretty well-respected, so when they say that fruit drinks aimed at kids contain too much sugar, we're inclined to listen...and get pretty worried!
Nearly half the products assessed, which included fruit juices and smoothies, contained a child's entire day recommended maximum sugar intake of 19g (almost five teaspoons)!
Smoothies were the worst offenders, with 13g of sugar per 100ml.
"Fruit drinks need to shed their image as a healthy option," child nutritionist Jenny Edelstein told the Huffington Post.
"Well-meaning parents have been misled by the recommendation that a glass of juice or a smoothie should count toward their child's 'five-a-day.'"
Edelstein continued: “In fact, the high levels of fructose in fruit juice and smoothies have the same effect on blood sugar levels as the sugar in a fizzy drink, and are contributing to the current child obesity epidemic.”
Researchers measured the quantity of ‘free’ sugars per 100ml in 203 standard portion sizes (200 ml) of popular fruit juice drinks, 100% natural juices and smoothies, which are marketed specifically to children.
‘Free’ sugars refer to sugars, such as glucose, fructose, sucrose and table sugar, which are added by the manufacturer, the BMJ stated.
They are not the naturally occurring sugars found in whole fruits and vegetables, which the body metabolises differently and which act to curb energy intake.
“Fruit drinks and smoothies are popular choices with young children and they do contribute to nutrition by providing vitamin C and other sources of vitamins and minerals,” said child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.
“The trouble with drinking fruits, rather than eating them, is that you get much less in the way of fibre and the sugars are more readily available to get stuck around tiny teeth.
But your kids can still enjoy fruit juices and smoothies. Here are the BMH's recommendations for mums:
1. Don't count fruit juices, juice drinks and smoothies with a high 'free' sugar content as one of your child's 'five a day.'
2. Don't make juices/ smoothies your child's only source of fruit. Eating fruit whole is better, so try to encourage it.
3. Dilute fruit juice with water or opt for unsweetened juices, and only allow these during meals.
4. Juice portion sizes should be limited to 150ml a day.
5. Squeeze fruit yourself when you're at home. That way you'll avoid the added sugars.
