Coffee shop customers who order hot drinks prepared with plant-based milks are unknowingly drinking excessive amounts of sugar, new research claims.
Customers who choose oat, almond, or other non-dairy milk in an attempt to go for a healthier, vegan option, actually end up consuming more sugar thanks to the lack of labeling on products.
The research was done by Action on Sugar, a charity from the Queen Mary University London. The organization compared the sugar and calorie content in hot chocolates and seasonal lattes from coffee chains available in the UK. Their sample included 124 hot chocolates and 79 lattes in the biggest sizes available.
The results were shocking — nearly all of those drinks have a lot of sugar in them, while some have the same amount as three cans of Coca-Cola. The beverage with the most sugar is Starbucks’ venti-sized Signature Caramel Hot Chocolate with whipped cream, and oat milk that contains 93.7 grams of sugar (that’s 3.3oz) and 758 calories.
According to Action on Sugar campaign director Katharine Jenner, “customers looking for dairy alternatives could be shocked to learn that many coffee shops and cafes use pre-sweetened alternative milks as the nutrition information is often very difficult to find – with information only available on websites or not at all.”
