Morning coffee chain offerings attacked by Cancer Council NSW
In the recent study 564 menu items from coffee chains were examined only to find that 54 per cent of the cold beverages contained more than half of the recommended daily sugar intake in one serving. Other drinks were found to have up to 39 grams of saturated fat per serving.
Research co-author, Clare Hughes, said the results were alarming.
“Many Australians rely on a take away coffee for their morning kick start but people might be unaware of just how much sugar, saturated fat and kilojoules they are consuming each day if they’re ordering anything more than the standard flat white, cappuccino or latte,” said Hughes.
The study also looked at the snacks often sold with coffee shop beverages only to find one banana bread which contained 14 teaspoons of sugar.
“We have a strong culture of eating on the go and catching up with friends, family and colleagues over a quick coffee and cake,” said Hughes.
“So the foods and drinks we consume away from home make a big contribution to our nutrient intake. With Australians spending a third of their weekly food budgets eating at cafés, restaurants and fast food outlets and 63 per cent of Australian adults overweight or obese, it’s more important than ever to have access to healthy options and the information we need to make informed choices when we eat away from home,” said Hughes.
In light of the results, the Cancer Council of NSW is asking Australians to be mindful when undertaking their coffee run.
“If we can stabilise or decrease obesity levels in Australia, half a million lives could be saved by 2050,” Hughes stated.
“That would mean fewer cases of obesity related cancers, such as bowel, endometrial and postmenopausal breast cancer; as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” said Hughes.
The research was published in the latest Nutrition and Dietetics journal on the 30 September 2015. The journal is published by the Dietitians Association of Australia.
