For an everyday cordial when you live with diabetes, compare sugars and carbohydrate per prepared serving rather than choosing on the “no added sugar” claim alone. ASDA Groceries lists negligible sugars for Robinsons Orange per diluted 250ml serving, while Waitrose & Partners lists 2.5g per 250ml serving for its Apple & Elderflower High Juice. Check dilution directions and ingredients too, and keep an everyday drink separate from the hypo treatment recommended by Diabetes UK.
Compare the sugars and carbohydrate in the diluted drink you would actually pour. Keep a separate hypo-treatment plan: Diabetes UK’s guidance for treating a hypo calls for fast-acting carbohydrate, not a no-added-sugar squash.
A “no added sugar” label does not tell you how much sugar remains in the prepared drink. The Robinsons Orange and Waitrose Apple & Elderflower examples carry different labelled sugar values per 250ml serving, according to ASDA Groceries and Waitrose & Partners.
Read the current bottle’s ingredients and allergen information as well as its nutrition panel. The reviewed Robinsons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose products list sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite, which matters if you need to avoid a particular ingredient.
Start with the drink as prepared according to its label, then check ingredients and whether you are buying it for ordinary use rather than hypo treatment.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and carbohydrate | Read both lines for the stated prepared serving. ASDA Groceries lists negligible amounts for Robinsons Orange per diluted 250ml; Sainsbury’s lists under 0.5g sugars and 2.1g carbohydrate per 250ml for its Lime Cordial. | I want to compare what is in the glass, not decide from a front-of-pack claim alone. |
| Fruit juice | Check the juice content alongside total sugars. Waitrose & Partners lists 50% apple juice from concentrate and 2.5g sugars per 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower High Juice. | Fruit-led flavour appeals to me, but I still want to know the sugars in the prepared drink. |
| Dilution | Follow the bottle’s mixing directions and check whether nutrition is stated for concentrate or a diluted serving. ASDA Groceries gives one part Robinsons Orange to four parts water for its listed values. | When I pour a glass, I want the label figures to match the way I prepare it. |
| Ingredients | Read the sweetener declaration and check for sulphites on the current pack. The reviewed Robinsons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose products list sodium metabisulphite. | I may need to avoid a particular sweetener or check ingredients because of a sulphite sensitivity. |
| Purpose of the drink | Do not substitute no-added-sugar cordial for a planned hypo treatment. Diabetes UK advises adults to treat a hypo immediately with 15 to 20g of fast-acting carbohydrate. | I want an everyday diluted drink without confusing it with the treatment in my diabetes plan. |
Fruit juice can contribute sugars even when none has been added. Waitrose & Partners lists 2.5g sugars per 250ml serving for its no-added-sugar Apple & Elderflower High Juice.
Compare the sugars and carbohydrate lines for the prepared drink before choosing.
A figure for undiluted cordial is not on the same basis as one for a prepared glass. The amount of concentrate you pour also affects what you consume.
Use each bottle’s dilution directions and compare values stated for equivalent prepared servings.
Diabetes UK advises adults to treat a hypo immediately with 15 to 20g of fast-acting carbohydrate. A no-added-sugar cordial should not replace the treatment in an individual diabetes plan.
Keep the recommended hypo treatment separate from drinks bought for everyday use.
The reviewed Robinsons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose products contain sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite. The Food Standards Agency notes that people with asthma have a higher risk of reacting to sulphur dioxide.
Check the current pack for ingredients and allergen information if sweeteners or sulphites are relevant to you.
These examples describe particular products and label details, not every cordial made or sold by each brand.
The Orange No Added Sugar Squash listed by ASDA Groceries is a concentrate with nutrition stated per diluted 250ml serving.
Sainsbury’s Lime Cordial No Added Sugar contains 30% fruit juice from concentrate, according to its product listing.
ASDA Groceries lists its Lime Cordial 1L as no added sugar.
Waitrose & Partners lists its Apple & Elderflower No Added Sugar High Juice with 50% apple juice from concentrate.
Marks & Spencer describes its Apple and Elderflower High Juice as no added sugar and made with 50% fruit juice.
These orange and blackcurrant squash concentrates are options for dilution with water. Check the current label for prepared-drink nutrition before comparing them.
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For an everyday diluted orange squash, ASDA Groceries lists negligible sugars and carbohydrate per prepared 250ml serving, using one part concentrate to four parts water. The listed ingredients include acesulfame K, sucralose and sodium metabisulphite; check the current bottle if these matter to you.
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This blackcurrant concentrate offers another no-added-sugar flavour for dilution. Before comparing it with a squash labelled per glass, check the current pack’s sugars and carbohydrate for the prepared drink and follow its dilution directions.
No. Waitrose & Partners lists 2.5g sugars per 250ml serving for its Apple & Elderflower No Added Sugar High Juice, while ASDA Groceries lists negligible sugars per diluted 250ml serving for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash. Read the total sugars line on the prepared-drink panel.
Compare sugars and carbohydrate for the stated diluted serving, then check the dilution directions and ingredients. Do not compare concentrate values with another product’s prepared-drink values. Diabetes UK notes that there is no single “diabetic” diet, so an everyday drink choice should also fit your individual advice and plan.
Do not rely on it for hypo treatment. Diabetes UK advises adults to treat a hypo immediately with 15 to 20g of fast-acting carbohydrate; use the treatment recommended in your individual diabetes plan instead of assuming a diet cordial supplies it.
Read the current bottle’s ingredient and allergen information. The reviewed Robinsons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose cordials list sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite. GOV.UK sets out UK warning wording for products containing sweeteners and for sulphur dioxide above 10mg/l; the ingredients of the particular drink remain the practical check when buying.