Adults swapping sugary drinks
If you want a flavoured no-added-sugar option, NHS guidance includes diet, sugar-free and no-added-sugar drinks as alternatives for adults. The bottle’s dilution directions help you judge how many drinks it will make.
Who is this for?
Households using squash regularly
Stated yields differ between concentrates. Waitrose lists 20 servings for Robinsons single-strength orange squash and 60 for its Essential double-strength summer-fruits squash; check the serving size and dilution directions when comparing bottles.
Shoppers checking ingredients
A no-added-sugar claim does not describe every ingredient. Read the current bottle if you avoid particular sweeteners or need to check allergens, including sulphites where listed.
What should you check?
Start with the drink you intend to prepare, then check the bottle’s stated yield and its ingredients.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared yield | Check the stated serving count, serving size and dilution ratio. Waitrose lists 20 servings at 1:4 for Robinsons single-strength orange squash and 60 at 1:9 for Essential double-strength summer fruits; the bottles are different sizes, so compare their serving definitions too. | I use squash regularly and want to know how many drinks the bottle is intended to make. |
| Added sugar | Check the exact variant’s no-added-sugar claim and its nutrition information for the diluted drink. Follow the bottle’s dilution directions. | I want a flavoured alternative to sugary drinks without assuming that every squash has the same formulation. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredient and allergen statements, including any named sweeteners or sulphites. A front-of-pack no-added-sugar claim is not a complete ingredient list. | Some ingredients matter to me, so I need to check this flavour and bottle rather than rely on the brand name. |
| Pack and flavour | Check the bottle or multipack size, flavour and storage directions against how often you will use it. | I want a pack size and flavour my household is likely to use as directed. |
Common buying mistakes
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Comparing concentrate volumes as though they make the same number of drinks
Concentration and stated yield differ: Sainsbury’s lists 40 servings at 1:9 for Robinsons double-strength orange squash, while Waitrose lists 20 at 1:4 for its single-strength orange version.
Check the serving size and dilution instructions on each bottle before comparing how long they may last.
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Reading “no added sugar” as a complete ingredient claim
Product formulations can include sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite. The Food Standards Agency identifies sulphites as relevant to people with sensitivity and notes a higher risk of reaction to sulphur dioxide for people with asthma.
Read the current ingredient and allergen information for the exact flavour you choose.
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Applying adult drink-swap advice to children
The NHS frames swaps to diet, sugar-free or no-added-sugar drinks as advice for adults and recommends water and milk for children.
If preparing squash for a child, check the product’s age-related and dilution directions rather than relying on its no-added-sugar label.
Brand and retailer references
These examples show why the exact variety matters; a brand name alone does not establish its dilution yield or ingredients.
Robinsons
Robinsons no-added-sugar orange squash appears in single-strength and double-strength formats in the Waitrose and Sainsbury’s listings.
- The listed single-strength bottle states 20 servings at 1:4 dilution; the double-strength bottle states 40 at 1:9.
- The listed variants contain sweeteners and sodium metabisulphite. Check the ingredients for the exact bottle.
Tesco / Stockwell & Co
Tesco lists Stockwell & Co no-added-sugar squash in apple and blackcurrant and double-strength orange varieties.
- The listings offer different flavours and concentration descriptions to consider.
- Check each bottle’s dilution, servings and ingredients before comparing it with another concentrate.
Waitrose Essential
Waitrose lists an Essential no-added-sugar summer-fruits squash with a suggested 1:9 dilution and 60 stated servings.
- The product page states the dilution and serving count, making its intended yield clear.
- Its listed ingredients include sucralose, acesulfame K and sodium metabisulphite.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists own-label and Stamford Street Co squash alongside branded products.
- Its range gives shoppers different pack and concentration descriptions to compare.
- Check the individual label before treating an own-label or Stamford Street Co variety as no added sugar.
No-added-sugar squash options on Joybuy
These listed concentrates cover several flavours and pack sizes for shoppers considering a no-added-sugar squash. Use each bottle’s current directions and serving information to judge its fit for regular use.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash, 6 × 1L
A six-bottle pack for households considering summer-fruits squash for regular use. Check the current bottle’s preparation directions and ingredients before choosing it.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Concentrate, 1.5L
A blackcurrant concentrate for shoppers who want a 1.5L no-added-sugar option. Read the current dilution, nutrition and age-related directions on the pack.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash, 1L
An orange-flavoured 1L option. Check its own dilution directions and serving information rather than applying the yield of a different Robinsons orange bottle.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash, 1L
A single 1L summer-fruits bottle rather than the six-bottle pack above. Use this bottle’s own preparation and ingredient information when comparing the two pack formats.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash, 850ml
An 850ml option if pineapple and passion fruit appeal more than orange or blackcurrant. Check the current nutrition panel for the prepared drink and follow the bottle’s dilution directions.
Questions about choosing squash
Does “no added sugar” mean sugar-free?
No. The Robinsons and Waitrose product listings describe no-added-sugar squash that contains naturally occurring sugars. Check the nutrition information for the diluted drink if that distinction matters to your choice.
How can I compare bottles with different strengths?
Compare their stated number and size of prepared servings alongside the dilution directions. A 1:4 single-strength bottle and a 1:9 double-strength bottle do not make equivalent amounts of drink simply because their concentrate volumes look similar.
Can I use adult no-added-sugar drink advice for children?
Do not assume it applies in the same way. The NHS discusses swaps to diet, sugar-free and no-added-sugar drinks for adults and recommends water and milk for children; also check any age-related preparation directions on the squash bottle.
Can no-added-sugar squash contain sweeteners?
Yes. The Waitrose Essential summer-fruits and listed Robinsons orange varieties include sweeteners. Read the current ingredients for the particular flavour and format you intend to buy.
What if I need to check for sulphites?
Read the current package’s ingredient and allergen information for the exact product. The listed Waitrose Essential and Robinsons orange examples include sodium metabisulphite, so a no-added-sugar claim alone cannot answer that question.