How much sugar is in your foods and drinks

October 15, 2015

Have you ever wondered how much sugar is in the foods and drinks we consume?
Not many of us will take too much notice about the amount of sugars in our favourite snacks and teatime treats but maybe we should.

The effects which added sugars are having on both our general and dental health can be highly damaging, especially when consumed frequently.

When sugar reacts with the bacteria in plaque, the acids which are formed attack the teeth and destroy the enamel.
If this occurs often, the tooth enamel may break down,
forming a hole or ‘cavity’ and causing tooth decay. This almost always leads to fillings and could even result in teeth having to be extracted.

To uncover some of the sugary secrets in our top snacks and drinks, we at Mcnab and Davenhill have to
put together a few short tables revealing exactly how much sugar you will find in them.

Chocolate bars
With high sugar content, chocolate should always be viewed as an occasional treat.
Milk chocolate bar (44g) – 5.75 teaspoons of sugar
Snickers bar (57g) – 7 teaspoons of sugar
Milky Way bar (58g) – 8.5 teaspoons of sugar
Marshmallows (100g) – 14.5 teaspoons of sugar
Caramel piece (10g) – 1.7 teaspoons of sugar
Butterfinger bar (60g) – 6.9 teaspoons of sugar
Dove chocolate bar (37g) – 5 teaspoons of sugar
Starburst packet (45 grams) – 5.5 teaspoons of sugar
Twix bar – 2.75 teaspoons of sugar
M&Ms packet (45 grams) – 5.75 teaspoons of sugar
Boiled sweets bag (100 grams) – 11.5 teaspoons of sugar

Soft drinks
Soft drinks often contain a high amount of sugar.
Coca cola (one can) – 7 teaspoons of sugar
Red Bull (one can) – 7.5 teaspoons of sugar
Lemonade (one glass) – 5.5 teaspoons of sugar
Orange squash (one glass) – 2.5 teaspoons of sugar
Hot chocolate (one mug) – 4.5 teaspoons of sugar
Fruit smoothie (one glass) – 3.5 teaspoons of sugar
A study published in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, identified a link between drinking more
than one soft drink a day and increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes.

How much sugar is in your breakfast cereal?

*(per 100 grams)

Breakfast cereal in a bowl
Froot Loops are said to contain 106 times more sugar than Shredded Wheat.
Alpen – 5 teaspoons of sugar
Cheerios – 1.1 teaspoons of sugar
Corn Flakes – 2.4 teaspoons of sugar
Cocoa Krispies – 9.6 teaspoons of sugar
Froot Loops – 10.6 teaspoons of sugar
Raisin Bran – 7.8 teaspoons of sugar
Frosted Flakes – 8.9 teaspoons of sugar
Honey Smacks – 14 teaspoons of sugar
Rice Krispies – 2.5 teaspoons of sugar
Special K – 3 teaspoons of sugar
Wheaties – 3.8 teaspoons of sugar
Trix – 8 teaspoons of sugar
Lucky Charms – 9 teaspoons of sugar
Rice Chex – 2 teaspoons of sugar
Wheat Chex – 2.6 teaspoons of sugar
Corn Chex – 2.8 teaspoons of sugar
Honey Nut Cheerios – 8.25 teaspoons of sugar
Reese’s Puffs – 8.9 teaspoons of sugar
Golden Grahams – 8.8 teaspoons of sugar
Cocoa Puffs – 9.3 teaspoons of sugar
Cookie Crisp – 8.7 teaspoons of sugar
Shredded Wheat – 0.1 teaspoons of sugar
Cocoa Pebbles – 8.6 teaspoons of sugar
Banana Nut Crunch – 4.7 teaspoons of sugar

All amounts are shown in both natural and added sugars combined.
All amounts are approximate.
All amounts are correct at the time of going on the web page and are taken from
manufacturers labels. Other manufacturers products may vary.