Shoppers comparing sugars in morning drinks
A no-added-sugar claim is a useful starting point, but the sugars figure for the prepared drink tells you more about what is in the glass. Check the dilution directions before comparing two products.
Who should check the label closely?
People planning drinks around diabetes
Diabetes UK identifies water as an all-round drink. For a flavoured alternative, check carbohydrate in the prepared serving and ask your diabetes healthcare team about questions specific to your plan.
Shoppers checking sulphites or frequent sipping
Read the exact bottle’s ingredients if sulphites matter to you. The Food Standards Agency notes a higher risk of reacting to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma. For frequent sipping, also bear in mind NHS oral-health guidance that no-added-sugar drinks can be acidic and may cause tooth wear.
What matters when choosing?
Start with whether you want water or a flavoured drink; if choosing cordial, compare it as prepared rather than judging the concentrate or front label alone.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars in the glass | Check “of which sugars” for the prepared serving and its dilution ratio. “No added sugar” does not mean zero sugars: Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g per 250ml for Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime diluted 1:6, while Waitrose lists 2.5g per 250ml for Belvoir Apple & Blackcurrant at the same dilution. | I want a flavoured drink at breakfast and need to know how much sugar is in the glass I will make. |
| Diabetes-aware planning | Check total carbohydrate for the diluted serving, not just the no-added-sugar wording. Diabetes UK identifies water as an all-round drink and advises seeking individual advice from a diabetes healthcare team where needed. | Water may suit my routine; if I choose cordial, I want its prepared-serving information to fit the plan I follow. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen label for sweeteners and sulphites. The Food Standards Agency notes a higher risk of reaction to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma. | I need to check the particular bottle for ingredients I avoid, rather than assuming similar-looking cordials use the same recipe. |
| Frequent sipping | Consider when you will drink it, as well as its sugar content. NHS oral-health guidance says no-added-sugar drinks can be acidic and may cause tooth wear. | If I tend to sip a drink throughout the morning, water is the simpler option to keep at hand. |
| Breakfast routine | Check how the concentrate is diluted and whether you can prepare the drink before leaving. Keep the drink separate from your choice of breakfast food. | I want something manageable on a rushed morning, without treating a glass of cordial as breakfast itself. |
Common mistakes to avoid
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Fruit juice can contribute sugars to a cordial with no added sugar. Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g sugars per 250ml diluted serving for Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime.
Compare the sugars figures at each product’s stated dilution; do not compare a concentrate figure with a ready-to-drink serving.
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Skipping the ingredients because the drink is lower in sugar
Sweeteners and preservatives vary between products. The Food Standards Agency notes a higher risk of reaction to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma.
Check the current bottle’s ingredient and allergen information if you avoid a particular sweetener or sulphites.
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Assuming no added sugar settles the dental question
NHS oral-health guidance says no-added-sugar drinks can be acidic and may cause tooth wear, particularly relevant when deciding what to sip frequently.
Consider water for repeated sipping between meals rather than relying on the sugar claim alone.
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Letting the drink stand in for breakfast
Cordial is a diluted drink, not breakfast food.
Choose breakfast food separately, whether you take water or cordial with it.
Brand and product-line references
These examples illustrate label differences between product lines; they are not a list of brands available in the product cards below.
Robinsons
Robinsons distinguishes its squash range from its classic cordials.
- Robinsons says 98% of its squash range contains no added sugar.
- Robinsons identifies its classic Cordials as a range with added sugar, so check the particular product rather than applying the squash claim to every bottle.
Belvoir Farm
Its no-added-sugar cordials illustrate why fruit content and sugars per prepared glass are separate label checks.
- Tesco Groceries lists Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime at 1.1g sugars per 250ml serving diluted 1:6; Waitrose lists Belvoir Apple & Blackcurrant at 2.5g on the same serving and dilution basis.
- Waitrose describes the Apple & Blackcurrant product as containing over 66% fruit juice. Its no-added-sugar wording does not mean the prepared drink has no sugars.
Sainsbury's
Its No Added Sugar Lime Cordial provides a labelled example for comparing prepared servings.
- Sainsbury's lists less than 0.5g sugars per 250ml serving and 30% lime juice from concentrate.
- Check the current ingredients and allergen declaration if sweeteners or sulphites affect your choice.
Tesco
Its Lime Cordial is another no-added-sugar product with a stated diluted-glass figure.
- Tesco Groceries lists 0.2g sugars per 250ml glass when diluted according to its instructions.
- Check the current bottle and listing for ingredients, dilution directions and availability before relying on this example for a particular breakfast shop.
Joybuy squash options
These no-added-sugar squashes are options for making a flavoured drink alongside a quick breakfast. Compare the current pack’s prepared-serving label before choosing one for a particular sugar or ingredient requirement.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6x1L
The six-bottle format is an option if you make diluted squash at home. Check the current pack’s prepared-serving sugars and carbohydrate figures before using them to compare drinks, and read the ingredients if sweeteners or sulphites matter to you.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Real Fruit Lemon Juice Squash 6x1L
This lemon squash comes as six 1L bottles for making a diluted drink at home. Check the pack’s dilution directions and prepared-serving nutrition before comparing it with another cordial, and read its ingredient warnings if relevant to your diet.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
The single 1L bottle offers a smaller pack choice than the six-bottle Summer Fruits option. Use the current pack’s dilution and nutrition information for any prepared-serving comparison, and check the ingredients if you avoid particular sweeteners or sulphites.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
This 850ml squash is a pineapple and passion fruit option to dilute for a morning drink. Check the current pack for its prepared-serving sugars, dilution directions and ingredient warnings before deciding whether it fits your needs.
Questions about cordial and breakfast
Does “no added sugar” mean a cordial has no sugar?
No. Sugars naturally present in fruit juice can remain. Tesco Groceries lists 1.1g sugars per 250ml diluted 1:6 serving for Belvoir Farm Sicilian Lemon & Lime; compare products using the sugars figure and dilution on their current labels.
What should I check if I manage diabetes?
Check the carbohydrate in the drink as prepared rather than relying on a no-added-sugar claim. Diabetes UK identifies water as an all-round drink and advises speaking to your diabetes healthcare team for individual advice about sweeteners where needed.
Is no-added-sugar cordial suitable for frequent sipping?
Do not judge frequent sipping by sugar content alone. NHS oral-health guidance says no-added-sugar drinks can be acidic and may cause tooth wear; water is a straightforward alternative between meals.
Should I check cordial for sulphites?
Yes, if sulphites are relevant to you: read the current bottle’s ingredient and allergen declaration. The Food Standards Agency notes that people with asthma have a higher risk of reacting to sulphur dioxide.
Can cordial take the place of breakfast when I am rushing?
No. Cordial is a drink to have alongside breakfast, not breakfast food. Choose something to eat separately, whether your drink is water or diluted cordial.