Food and drinks in coffee shops have high levels of sugar and fats, Australian study reveals

Many Australians may be unaware that they are already consuming an entire day’s limit on sugar or saturated fats in just a single trip to coffee chains, according to researchers from Cancer Council New South Wales.

The study, which appeared in Nutrition & Dietetics, reveals some drinks and sweet snacks being offered in cafes are unhealthy, especially if they’re consumed regularly. The findings highlight that apart from caffeine fix, people also take in high levels of sugar, saturated fat and kilojoules in every coffee run.

For the investigation, the team examined more than 500 menu items across five popular chains including Gloria Jeans, The Coffee Club, McCafé, Muffin Break and Michel’s Patisserie. They assessed the energy, saturated fat, and sugar content of beverages and snacks, comparing them to the average daily allowance recommended by health authorities.

The researchers found that 54 percent of cold beverages, such as iced coffees and chocolate drinks, contain more than half of the sugar allowance in one serving. Consumers who order fancy coffee beverages and sweet snacks on the side could also be consuming too many kilojoules each day, which over time may lead to weight gain. For example, foods and drinks consumed between meals as morning or afternoon snacks can contain up to 4000 kilojoules, which is almost half of the kilojoule allowance for an adult, the team says.

Even snacks touted by the coffee chains as healthier were found to be filled with sugar and saturated fat, the researchers claim. Coffees labelled skim or low fat also do not necessarily mean low in sugar or energy, they reveal.

It is becoming evident that these choices may be a significant factor in rising obesity rates in adults, says Clare Hughes, co-author of the research and Nutrition Programs Manager at Cancer Council NSW. “We have a strong culture of eating on the go and catching up with friends, family and colleagues over a quick coffee and cake. So the foods and drinks we consume away from home make a big contribution to our nutrient intake,” she explains.

According to Cancer Council NSW, Australians spend a third of their weekly food budgets eating at cafés, restaurants and fast food outlets. Given that 63 percent of Australian adults are also found to be overweight or obese, Hughes says it is more important than ever to have access to healthy options and details needed to make informed choices when eating away from home.

While Hughes says people should be conscious of their coffee and snack choices, the Cancer Council NSW is strongly encouraging cafés and restaurants to offer smaller, healthier portion sizes across their drinks and snack ranges. Menus should be reformulated to reduce saturated fat, sugar and energy content to address current levels of nutrients in snacks and drink products, she adds.

Hughes says if obesity levels in Australia will be stabilised or decreased, half a million lives could be saved by 2050. This translates to mean fewer cases of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity-related cancers, such as bowel, endometrial and post-menopausal breast cancer.

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