The range of “refreshing drinks” is large. But ‘flavoured water’ often also contains a lot of sugar. The Foodwatch Association has now taken a closer look: the mineral water check shows how much sugar is actually in the drinks.
The result is sobering: most “flavored (mineral) water” exceeds the WHO’s daily requirement of 25 grams of sugar per day. The “Aqua+ Pear Melisse” from Hofer and “Saskia Aqua Plus Pear Melisse” from Lidl contain the most sugar with 10.5 grams per 250 milliliters. However, the “low-calorie” drinks contain three sugar cubes each.
So if you drink a bottle of 1.5 liters, you exceed the maximum by a factor of 2.5. But other brands don’t skimp on sugar either. The forest source “raspberry” also contains 10 grams of sugar per 250 milliliters. Römerquelle’s “Emotion Pineapple Lemon” follows with 9.3 grams per 250 milliliters.
Sugar-free alternatives
Better alternatives are “Zitrone Limette” from Römerquelle, “Himbeere” from Vöslauer or “Zitrone” from Frankenmarkter. These contain no sugar and you still have some taste in your water.
Note “urgently necessary”
Heidi Porstner, head of foodwatch Austria, says: “On hot days like this summer, it is easy to drink an entire bottle and consume an unnecessary amount of sugar as a result. A clear indication of the sugar content on the front of the label would are urgently needed here.”
Due to the similar presentation of the mineral water bottles, it is often difficult to see how much sugar is in the drinks. Some brands also offer them in palettes: the sweetened ones, the regular ones, and the ones with fruit concentrate.
High amount of sugar a surprise
Most consumers think they are going for a healthier alternative – that is mineral water with a little flavor. But the fact that they have already consumed their daily maximum amount of sugar with two to three bottles of 250 milliliters comes as a surprise to most people.
Foodwatch demands: The sugar content of the soft drinks must be visible at a glance on the front of the bottle. Scented water with sugar does not belong in the supermarket next to ordinary mineral water. They belong on the lemonade shelf.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
