Families making lunch at home
If squash is a regular lunch drink, the choice is not just about flavour: decide whether to use still water, add fizz occasionally or serve water or plain milk instead.
Who is this choice for?
Children asking for a fizzy drink
Squash and sparkling water offer a fizzy variation without requiring a separate type of concentrate. Medway Community Healthcare cautions that acidic fizzy drinks, even sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces.
Households checking labels closely
Compare the exact bottle's no-added-sugar wording, dilution directions, sweeteners, allergens and age advice. Marks & Spencer's squash labels show why those details can matter within a range.
What matters when choosing a lunch drink?
Squash with still water
Consider it: For a flavoured lunch drink without adding carbonation; follow the bottle's dilution directions.
Bear in mind: A no-added-sugar label does not settle every question about ingredients or suitability for a child.
Squash with sparkling water
Consider it: For an occasional fizzy drink with lunch; Marks & Spencer suggests mixing squash with sparkling water.
Bear in mind: Medway Community Healthcare warns that acidic fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces.
Water or plain milk
Consider it: When the family wants a lunch drink without squash or fizz; Medway Community Healthcare identifies both as tooth-friendly drinks.
Bear in mind: Neither offers the squash flavour or fizz a child may be asking for.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Fizz and frequency | Decide whether the drink is for an occasional lunch or frequent sipping. Medway Community Healthcare warns that acidic fizzy drinks, even sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces; it identifies water and milk as tooth-friendly alternatives. | For an occasional fizzy lunch, I could mix squash with sparkling water. For a regular drink, I would rather choose water or plain milk. |
| Squash and dilution | Check the exact bottle for no-added-sugar wording and its dilution directions. Marks & Spencer's Summer Fruits Squash is labelled no added sugar, but that wording describes this product, not every squash. | I want a flavoured drink and need to know how to dilute the concentrate I buy, rather than assuming all bottles use the same amount. |
| Age and ingredients | Read the age advice, sweetener list and allergen declaration on the chosen bottle. Marks & Spencer's Summer Fruits Squash lists sucralose and sulphites, says it is unsuitable for babies and advises extra water for older children. | If I am serving a young child or checking for an allergen, I need the instructions and ingredients for that particular squash. |
Common shopping mistakes
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Searching only for a ready-made sparkling squash
Marks & Spencer suggests mixing ordinary squash with sparkling water, so the mixer is a separate choice from the concentrate.
Choose the squash by its label and dilution directions, then decide whether still or sparkling water suits the occasion.
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Assuming no added sugar settles the fizz question
Medway Community Healthcare warns that acidic fizzy drinks, including sugar-free ones, can wear tooth surfaces.
Think about how often the drink will be served. Its guidance identifies water and milk as tooth-friendly alternatives.
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Relying on the brand name instead of the bottle
Marks & Spencer's Summer Fruits Squash lists sulphites and sucralose and carries age-specific advice; those details cannot be assumed for every squash.
Check the chosen bottle's ingredients, allergens, age advice and dilution directions before serving it.
Brand ranges to compare
M&S
Marks & Spencer suggests pairing squash from its range with still or sparkling water.
- Its Summer Fruits Squash label states 20% fruit and no added sugar.
- That product also lists sucralose and sulphites and carries advice about serving it to children; check the exact product rather than applying its label to the whole range.
Tesco
Tesco's listings include own-label no-added-sugar squash and sparkling mineral water as separate products.
- The squash listing includes quadruple-strength orange options, while the water listing includes sparkling formats.
- Check the chosen squash label for its dilution instructions; the two listings do not establish directions for a particular combination.
Robinsons
Tesco's squash listing includes Robinsons orange no-added-sugar and double-strength no-added-sugar formats.
- The listed formats give shoppers distinct bottle and concentrate options to compare.
- Check the current bottle for ingredients, allergens and dilution directions; a range listing does not make those details identical across products.
Squash options on Joybuy
These concentrates offer no-added-sugar squash options for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. If you plan to use sparkling water, check the chosen bottle's directions; these product choices do not change the oral-health consideration around fizzy drinks.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar concentrate 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. The product information advises against serving it to children under 3 and calls for extra water for toddlers; check the bottle for its dilution directions, sweeteners and sodium bisulphite.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
A pineapple and passion fruit option for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. Check the bottle's directions and ingredient declaration, including its sulphites and phenylalanine statement, before serving.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
An orange squash for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. Its product information says it is unsuitable for children under 36 months and advises extra water for toddlers; check the bottle for dilution directions and sulphites.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A summer-fruit squash for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. The product information recommends extra water for toddlers and lists sulphites and sweeteners; follow the exact bottle's directions.
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Robinsons Real Fruit Lemon Juice No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A lemon squash for a flavoured lunch drink diluted with water. Check the current bottle for its sweeteners, ingredients and dilution directions, particularly when serving a child.
Questions about sparkling squash
Can ordinary squash be mixed with sparkling water?
Yes. Marks & Spencer suggests pairing squash from its range with still or sparkling water. Check the dilution directions on the particular squash you choose rather than assuming it needs a special sparkling formulation.
Does no added sugar make fizzy squash tooth-friendly?
No-added-sugar wording does not remove the concern about acidic fizzy drinks. Medway Community Healthcare warns that even sugar-free fizzy drinks can wear tooth surfaces and identifies water and milk as tooth-friendly alternatives.
Can babies or very young children have squash?
Check the exact product's age advice. Marks & Spencer labels its Summer Fruits Squash unsuitable for babies and advises adding extra water if it is given to older children; that statement should not be assumed to apply to every squash.
Which ingredients should I check before serving squash?
Read the chosen bottle's sweetener and allergen declarations as well as its dilution directions. For example, Marks & Spencer's Summer Fruits Squash lists sucralose and sulphites, but another product may have different ingredients.