Hosts serving a group
A bottle to share and individual drinks solve different serving needs. Check the pack volume and storage directions, then compare ingredients and sugars using the serving size you expect to pour.
Who is buying for the BBQ?
Shoppers avoiding added sugar
Look beyond the front-of-pack claim. A no-added-sugar juice drink may contain sweeteners, while 100% apple juice still contains naturally occurring sugars.
Guests who want apple-only juice
Check that the product is described as 100% apple juice and read the ingredient list. An apple-containing mixed-fruit drink will not meet an apple-only preference.
What should you check?
Decide whether you want 100% apple juice or a juice drink, then compare the exact labels for the drinks you are considering.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars | Read sugars per 100ml and per serving. Tropicana UK lists 10g per 100ml and 15g per 150ml for Orchard Apple, despite its no-added-sugar description. | I want to know how much sugar is in the glass, not just whether sugar was added. |
| Fruit and sweeteners | Check whether the label says 100% apple juice or juice drink, then read the fruit content and ingredients. Tesco lists 20% apple juice and sucralose in its No Added Sugar Apple Juice Drink; Sainsbury's lists sweeteners in its apple-and-pear drink. | For an apple-only drink, I would choose 100% apple juice. If I am considering a juice drink, I want to check its other fruit and sweeteners before serving it. |
| Serving and storage | Compare bottle or multipack volume with the number of guests. Check refrigeration and after-opening directions on the chosen pack. The NHS says no more than 150ml of unsweetened 100% fruit juice counts as one 5 A Day portion, however much is consumed. | A larger bottle could be useful for sharing, but I need somewhere to store it as directed; individual bottles may be easier to hand out. |
What is easy to overlook?
-
Treating ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Apple juice can contain naturally occurring sugars. Tropicana UK lists 10g sugars per 100ml for Orchard Apple.
Compare the nutrition panel as well as the claim, using the same serving volume for each drink.
-
Assuming every apple drink is apple-only juice
Tesco's no-added-sugar apple juice drink contains 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose. Sainsbury's apple-and-pear option contains sweeteners and includes another fruit.
If apple-only juice is the requirement, check for a 100% apple juice description and read the full ingredients list.
-
Using pack size as a guide to portions
A large bottle is convenient for sharing, but its volume does not change the NHS guidance that a maximum of 150ml of unsweetened 100% fruit juice counts as one 5 A Day portion.
Plan how you will serve the juice separately from how many bottles you need for the group.
-
Overlooking storage before the event
A bottle that needs refrigeration may not suit a venue without enough chilled space.
Check the purchased pack's unopened and after-opening instructions, and confirm that your chosen drink is available before relying on it for the BBQ.
Which brand ranges are relevant?
Tropicana
Orchard Apple is a 100% apple juice option for sharing; Sainsbury's lists a 1.8L bottle.
- Tropicana UK lists apple juice and ascorbic acid as its ingredients.
- Its nutrition panel lists 10g sugars per 100ml. No added sugar does not make this a sugar-free drink.
Copella
A cloudy apple juice option listed by Sainsbury's in several bottle sizes.
- Sainsbury's lists Cloudy Apple Fruit Juice in 300ml, 900ml and 1.35L formats.
- Check the exact bottle's ingredients and nutrition panel rather than assuming its sugars from the cloudy style.
Tesco
Its 1L No Added Sugar Apple Juice Drink is an option for shoppers considering a sweetened juice drink rather than 100% juice.
- Tesco lists 3.1g sugars per 150ml for this drink.
- It contains water, 20% apple juice from concentrate and sucralose, so it is not apple-only juice.
Sainsbury's
Its 1L Apple & Pear Juice Drink, No Added Sugar, is a mixed-fruit juice drink.
- The product description identifies it as a drink from concentrate with sweeteners.
- It will not meet an apple-only requirement; check the precise product label if sweeteners matter to your guests.
M&S
Its apple-juice category includes cloudy juices and blends, with a no-added-sugar filter.
- The category offers different apple-drink styles to compare.
- Check the individual product description: a sparkling apple-and-elderflower drink, for example, is not plain apple juice.
Joybuy apple-containing drink
This no-added-sugar blackcurrant-and-apple drink comes in individual bottles for serving at a BBQ. It is a mixed-fruit soft drink, not an apple-only juice.
No image available
Fruit Shoot Black & Apple No Added Sugar 8x200ml
Eight 200ml bottles offer individual drinks rather than a bottle to pour from. This blackcurrant-and-apple soft drink is not apple-only juice; check that its sweeteners suit your guests and follow the pack's storage instructions.
Questions about apple drinks
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean apple juice is sugar-free?
No. Apple juice can still contain naturally occurring sugars. Tropicana UK lists 10g sugars per 100ml for its Orchard Apple juice, so check the nutrition panel for the amount in your serving.
Can a no-added-sugar apple drink contain sweeteners?
Yes. Tesco lists sucralose in its No Added Sugar Apple Juice Drink, and Sainsbury's describes its no-added-sugar apple-and-pear drink as containing sweeteners. Read the ingredients if you need a drink without them.
Is an apple-and-pear juice drink the same as apple juice?
No. Sainsbury's describes its Apple & Pear Juice Drink as a mixed-fruit drink from concentrate with sweeteners. Choose a product labelled 100% apple juice if apple-only juice is what you want to serve.
How much unsweetened fruit juice counts towards 5 A Day?
The NHS says a maximum of 150ml of unsweetened 100% fruit juice counts as one 5 A Day portion. Drinking more juice does not make it count as another portion.
What should I check before buying apple drinks for a BBQ?
Check whether each product is 100% juice or a juice drink, its ingredients and sugars per 100ml and per serving. Then choose a pack format for your group and check availability and the purchased pack's storage directions.