Shoppers comparing fat declarations
If fat is your main consideration, use the per-100g nutrition line to compare packs of different sizes. A mint’s flavour or packaging does not tell you its declared fat content.
Who is choosing these mints?
Shoppers also considering sugars
A conventional roll and a sugar-free tube can have similar declared fat while differing substantially in sugars. Sainsbury’s lists 94g sugars per 100g for its Trebor roll; Waitrose lists 0.5g per 100g for Polo Sugar Free.
Shoppers checking sweeteners
If particular sweeteners matter to you, read the ingredients as well as the nutrition panel. The Polo Sugar Free listing identifies sorbitol, while the M&S sugar-free mint listing identifies sorbitol and steviol glycosides.
What should you compare?
Start with comparable per-100g figures, then decide whether sugars, ingredients or the size of the pack changes your choice.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Declared fat | Compare fat per 100g, not a per-mint figure with a per-100g figure. Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5g per 100g for its 41.3g Trebor roll; Waitrose lists 0.5g for Polo Sugar Free, and M&S lists 1.5g for its Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints. | Fat is my main consideration, so I want to compare the same measure across packs before looking at other differences. |
| Sugars and sweeteners | Read sugars per 100g, the ingredients and any warning. The Sainsbury’s Trebor listing gives 94g sugars per 100g; the Waitrose Polo Sugar Free listing gives 0.5g and warns that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects. | I also want to consider sugars, or I need to know which sweeteners a sugar-free pack contains. |
| Pack format | Check whether the listing is for one roll, a multipack or a tin. Tesco lists a 33.4g Polo Sugar Free roll, while the Waitrose Polo Sugar Free listing is a four-pack; Sainsbury’s lists an individual 41.3g Trebor roll. | I want one pack to carry, rather than assuming a multipack and an individual roll are interchangeable purchases. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Treating low fat as the whole decision
Fat and sugars tell different parts of the story. Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5g fat but 94g sugars per 100g for its Trebor Extra Strong Peppermint roll.
Compare fat first if that is your priority, then check sugars and ingredients separately.
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Assuming sugar-free means unrestricted use
The Waitrose Polo Sugar Free listing identifies sorbitol and warns that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects.
Read the sweetener and warning information on the current pack, particularly if you are considering a multipack.
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Comparing figures on different bases
A per-mint figure and a per-100g figure cannot be compared directly as though they describe the same amount of food.
Use the per-100g lines for a like-for-like product comparison, then consider how much of the pack you intend to eat.
Brand and product-line references
These label examples illustrate different mint formats and ingredients; they do not describe every product made by each brand.
Polo
Polo Sugar Free is a pressed-mint tube sold in both individual-roll and multipack listings.
- Waitrose lists 0.5g fat and 0.5g sugars per 100g for its Polo Sugar Free four-pack; Tesco lists an individual 33.4g roll.
- The sugar-free product contains sorbitol and carries an excessive-consumption laxative warning.
Trebor
Sainsbury’s lists Trebor Extra Strong Peppermint Mints as an individual 41.3g roll.
- That roll lists less than 0.5g fat per 100g.
- It also lists 94g sugars per 100g and contains sugar, glucose syrup and gelatine.
M&S Food
M&S Sugar Free Curiously Strong Mints provide a small-pack alternative to a mint roll.
- The M&S listing gives 1.5g fat and 0.2g sugars per 100g.
- Its listed sweeteners include sorbitol and steviol glycosides; check the current pack if either matters to you.
Joybuy mint options
These Joybuy options include a four-roll peppermint pack and two sugar-free mint tins. Check the pack format carefully if you want just one roll or tube.
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Trebor Extra Strong Peppermint 4 Rolls 145.6g
Consider this format if you want conventional peppermint rolls and a four-roll pack suits you; it is not one individual roll. The Joybuy product listing gives 0.10g fat and 94g sugars per 100g and lists sugar, glucose syrup and gelatine among the ingredients.
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Smint Sugarfree Spearmint Tin XXL
This is an XXL spearmint tin rather than an individual roll. If declared fat or particular sweeteners determine your choice, compare the current tin’s nutrition and ingredients with the other packs.
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Smint Peppermint Sugar Free Mints 35g
The 35g peppermint pack is a tin, not a single roll. Check its current per-100g fat declaration and ingredient list before choosing it for a low-fat diet or a preference concerning particular sweeteners.
Common questions
Does sugar-free mean a mint has less fat?
No: compare fat and sugars separately. Waitrose lists 0.5g fat per 100g for Polo Sugar Free, while Sainsbury’s lists less than 0.5g fat per 100g for its conventional Trebor roll; their listed sugars are 0.5g and 94g per 100g respectively.
What should I check when comparing mint nutrition labels?
Use the fat-per-100g line to compare products on the same basis. Then read sugars, ingredients and warnings according to what matters to you; a fat figure alone does not describe those other differences.
Do Polo Sugar Free mints carry a use warning?
Yes. The Waitrose listing warns that excessive consumption may produce laxative effects. Check the current pack for its ingredients and warning before buying or using the mints frequently.