Students packing a single-serve drink
A sealed bottle avoids pouring from a larger carton before leaving for lectures. Tesco’s 250ml Fruit Splash is an apple juice drink, though, so check whether its juice content and sweeteners suit you.
Who is each option for?
Students comparing listed sugars
Compare equal serving sizes as well as the wording on the front of the pack. Tesco lists 3.1g sugars per 150ml for its 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink; ASDA Groceries lists 15g per 150ml for Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice 900ml. The products differ in juice content and ingredients too.
Students who want 100% apple juice
Pressed Tropicana juice is an option if you want juice rather than a diluted drink with sweeteners. No added sugar does not mean no sugars: its label lists 15g per 150ml, and the NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars.
What should you check before buying?
Decide whether you want 100% juice or an apple juice drink, then compare the serving you would take to lunch and the pack’s storage instructions.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Label wording | Read the product description and the “of which sugars” value. Check whether “no added sugar” describes 100% juice or a juice drink. | I do not want to mistake “no added sugar” for sugar-free. A 100% juice can still contain naturally occurring sugars. |
| Juice content and sweeteners | Compare the juice percentage and ingredients. Tesco lists 12% apple juice from concentrate, acesulfame K and sucralose for its 250ml Fruit Splash drink; Tesco describes Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice as 100% pressed juice. | If I want apple juice rather than a diluted drink, juice content matters. If I choose a juice drink, I want to know which sweeteners it contains. |
| Serving and sugars | Compare sugars for the same amount. Tesco lists 3.1g per 150ml for its 1L no-added-sugar juice drink, while ASDA Groceries lists 15g per 150ml for Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice 900ml. | I want the amount I pour or carry to reflect the label’s serving size, rather than assuming every pack contains one serving. |
| Carrying and storage | Check whether the pack is single-serve and follow its storage instructions. Tesco says to refrigerate its 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink after opening and consume it within five days. | For a lunch between lectures, I would rather carry a sealed individual pack or pour a portion at home than take an opened carton without a storage plan. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “no sugars”
ASDA Groceries lists 15g sugars per 150ml for Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice 900ml, despite the juice containing no added sugar. The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars.
Check the product type, ingredients and “of which sugars” value for the portion you intend to drink.
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Taking a large carton without planning the portion
A multi-serve carton does not remove the need to decide how much to take. Tesco instructs shoppers to refrigerate its 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink after opening and consume it within five days.
For lunch on campus, choose a sealed individual pack or pour a portion into a clean reusable bottle before leaving home, then follow the product’s storage instructions.
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Treating juice as the only drink for a day of lectures
The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars, so repeatedly drinking juice adds to the amount consumed across the day.
If you choose juice, decide on a serving for lunch and carry water separately for the rest of the day.
Brand references for this choice
These examples show how pack format, juice content and labelled sugars can differ; a brand name alone does not tell you which type of drink you are buying.
Tesco
Tesco lists both a 250ml Fruit Splash apple juice drink and a 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink.
- The 250ml Fruit Splash bottle is an individual pack; Tesco lists 3.1g sugars per bottle.
- Tesco lists 12% apple juice and sweeteners for Fruit Splash. Its 1L drink also contains a sweetener and needs refrigeration after opening.
Tropicana
Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice is a 100% pressed, not-from-concentrate option rather than a diluted juice drink.
- The product lists apple juice and vitamin C as ingredients, according to ASDA Groceries.
- ASDA Groceries lists 15g sugars per 150ml for the 900ml product. No added sugar does not make it sugar-free.
Copella
Tesco lists Copella Apple Juice 900ml as a cloudy, not-from-concentrate apple juice.
- The Tesco listing describes naturally occurring sugars from juice rather than a sweetened, diluted apple juice drink.
- It lists 15g sugars per 150ml and instructs shoppers to keep the juice refrigerated and consume it within four days of opening.
M&S
M&S describes its Cloudy Apple Juice as containing no artificial sweeteners, colours or flavourings.
- The M&S product listing provides a sugars value of 10.2g per 100g for checking the labelled amount.
- M&S says to refrigerate the juice after opening and drink it within four days.
Joybuy options for a packed lunch
These options cover individual cans of sparkling 100% apple juice and bottles of a no-added-sugar apple-and-blackcurrant drink. They suit different preferences about juice content and pack format.
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Appletiser 100% Apple Juice Lightly Sparkling 6 × 250ml
The individual 250ml cans offer a way to pack sparkling 100% apple juice for lunch. Check the sugars for a full can when deciding on your portion; 100% juice is a different choice from a diluted no-added-sugar juice drink.
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Fruit Shoot Black & Apple No Added Sugar 8 × 200ml
The individual 200ml bottles offer a no-added-sugar apple-and-blackcurrant drink to pack with lunch, rather than 100% apple juice. Check the ingredients if you prefer to avoid sweeteners or want an apple-only drink.
Questions about apple juice at lunch
Does “no added sugar” mean an apple drink is sugar-free?
No. A drink can contain sugars from its juice ingredients without having sugar added. Check the “of which sugars” value and the ingredients rather than relying on the front-of-pack wording alone.
Can I take 100% apple juice for a lecture lunch?
Yes, if you want juice rather than a diluted drink, but decide how much to pour or carry. ASDA Groceries lists 15g sugars per 150ml for Tropicana Pressed Apple Fruit Juice 900ml, and the NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars.
Why does a no-added-sugar apple juice drink contain sweeteners?
“No added sugar” does not mean “no sweeteners”. Tesco lists sucralose in its 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink and both sucralose and acesulfame K in its 250ml Fruit Splash drink. Read the ingredients if that distinction affects your choice.
Is an individual pack or a large carton easier to take to lectures?
An individual pack avoids pouring a portion before you leave. If you use a larger carton, plan what you will carry and follow its storage instructions; Tesco says to refrigerate its 1L no-added-sugar apple juice drink after opening.
Should I check the label even if I have read the online listing?
Yes. Before choosing a drink, read the pack for its current ingredients, sugars per serving and storage instructions, particularly if sweeteners or the amount you plan to drink matter to you.