Choose a still smoothie if you want a blended fruit-and-purée drink; choose a sparkling fruit drink if fizz matters more. UK listings from Sainsbury’s and Waitrose & Partners place these drinks in separate categories, so check the exact ingredients rather than assuming a sparkling drink has smoothie texture. For unsweetened juice and smoothies, the NHS counts no more than 150ml towards 5 A Day once daily.
For a picnic or celebration, carbonation may be the deciding feature. Waitrose & Partners lists sparkling juice drinks separately from the smoothies listed by Sainsbury’s, so check the drink type before choosing a flavour.
If a blended fruit-and-purée drink is the point, look at the smoothie description and ingredients rather than relying on fruit flavour alone. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S list still smoothies in different bottle and multipack formats.
Bottle size, sugars and the ingredients on the exact pack matter when sharing drinks or choosing for someone with an allergy. The NHS counts a maximum of 150ml of unsweetened juice or smoothie towards 5 A Day once daily, even if more is consumed.
Choose when: You want a blended fruit-and-purée drink rather than carbonation; M&S describes its smoothies as blends of fruit juice and purées.
Bear in mind: A larger bottle does not increase the daily 5 A Day contribution beyond the NHS limit for unsweetened smoothies.
Choose when: Fizz is the feature you want for a picnic or shared drink; Waitrose & Partners lists sparkling apple and grape drinks.
Bear in mind: A sparkling fruit drink need not contain fruit purée or have the texture of a smoothie; check its ingredients.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Drink type | Read the product description for smoothie or sparkling drink. Check the ingredients for fruit purée and whether carbonation is stated. | I want fizz for a holiday gathering, or I want the blended drink I expect from a smoothie. Fruit flavour alone will not settle that choice. |
| Portion and sugars | Compare serving volumes and sugars on the exact labels. The NHS counts a maximum of 150ml of unsweetened juice or smoothie towards 5 A Day once daily. | If I am sharing a large bottle, I want to plan servings without treating its full volume as several additional 5 A Day portions. |
| Ingredients | Read the full ingredient list and any allergen information on the current pack; blends can differ even within one range. | Someone drinking it may need to avoid a particular ingredient, so the exact variant matters more than its fruit-flavour name. |
| Storage | Check whether the bottle needs chilling and how long it keeps after opening. M&S specifies 0°C to +5°C and use within four days of opening for its Mango, Pineapple and Passion Fruit Smoothie; follow the instructions for the product you buy. | For a trip with limited fridge space, I need a bottle size and storage instructions that fit the journey. |
Fizz may suit the occasion, but the drink may not contain the fruit purée or have the texture you wanted.
Decide whether carbonation or smoothie texture matters more, then check the product description and ingredients.
The NHS counts no more than 150ml of unsweetened juice or smoothie as one 5 A Day portion per day, regardless of how much is drunk.
Use the bottle volume to plan servings, not to multiply its 5 A Day contribution.
NHS dental guidance links frequent sugary drinks with repeated acid exposure to teeth. A fruit-flavoured or fizzy description does not tell you the sugars content.
Compare the nutrition labels of the exact drinks and take water if you need something to sip throughout the outing.
Refrigeration and opened-life instructions vary by product. M&S specifies both for its Mango, Pineapple and Passion Fruit Smoothie.
Check the pack before travelling and choose a bottle size that suits the number of drinkers and available refrigeration.
Leftovers may go unused if you cannot follow the bottle’s storage instructions.
These references help identify smoothie ranges and label details; a brand’s smoothie listing does not establish that a particular drink is sparkling.
innocent describes a range of fruit-and-vegetable smoothies, while Sainsbury’s lists its still smoothies in several formats.
Tesco lists its Strawberry Sensation Smoothie 750ml in its juices and smoothies range.
Sainsbury’s lists 750ml own-label fruit smoothies alongside branded smoothies.
M&S describes ready-made fruit smoothies in 350ml and 750ml bottles, including fruit juice and purée blends.
Sainsbury’s lists Naked Green Machine and Blue Machine Super Smoothies in 750ml bottles.
These options include sparkling fruit drinks for fizz-focused occasions and a coconut-milk smoothie for shoppers who prefer the smoothie route. Check each pack for the ingredients and storage instructions that matter to your trip.
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A 750ml sparkling grape drink for a shared occasion when fizz matters more than smoothie texture. It is not a smoothie; check the pack’s ingredients and allergen information before serving.
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A sparkling fruit soft drink in twelve 250ml portions for a group outing. It is not a smoothie; check the current pack’s ingredients and nutrition panel when comparing drinks.
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A 750ml sparkling peach drink for a chilled, shared occasion rather than a smoothie-style drink. Check the current pack’s ingredients and allergen information before choosing.
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A 325ml coconut-milk smoothie with passion fruit for someone choosing a smoothie instead of fizz. It is not sparkling; check the current pack for ingredients, allergens and storage instructions.
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A 750ml sparkling apple drink for a holiday meal or gathering, not a smoothie. Check the pack’s nutrition panel when comparing sugars, and handle the glass bottle carefully.
Not necessarily. Sainsbury’s smoothie listings and Waitrose & Partners’ sparkling juice-drink listings describe different drink routes. Choose by the texture or fizz you want, then check the exact product description and ingredients.
The NHS counts a maximum of 150ml of unsweetened fruit juice, vegetable juice or smoothie as one 5 A Day portion per day. Drinking more from that category does not add further portions.
Take water for repeated drinking and check the sugars on any fruit drink you also choose. NHS dental guidance links frequent sugary drinks with repeated acid exposure to teeth; a sparkling or fruit-flavoured name does not establish the drink’s sugars content.
Read the ingredients and allergen information on the current pack of the exact smoothie or sparkling drink. Do not assume that two fruit-flavoured variants have the same ingredients.
Yes, if you can follow that bottle’s storage instructions throughout the trip. For example, M&S says to refrigerate its Mango, Pineapple and Passion Fruit Smoothie at 0°C to +5°C and drink it within four days of opening; check your chosen bottle for its own instructions.