Hosts serving children and adults
Check the stated dilution and serving size, then work out how much prepared drink the bottle makes for your guest list.
Who is this for?
Parents comparing party drinks
Use the diluted-drink nutrition panel and ingredient list to compare squash varieties. A no-added-sugar label does not, by itself, mean the prepared drink contains no sugars or sweeteners.
Hosts checking ingredients for guests
Read the label of each exact flavour before serving. The Sainsbury’s and M&S products discussed below list sulphites and sweeteners, so a range name alone is not enough for an ingredient check.
What should you check?
Start with prepared volume for the guest list, then compare nutrition on the same diluted basis and check the ingredients of the bottles you intend to serve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared volume | Check the serving size, number of servings and dilution ratio. Sainsbury’s lists 40 servings for Robinsons 2L Orange at one part concentrate to four parts water; at 250ml per serving, that is 10L prepared. | I need enough drink for the guest list and want to plan by prepared litres, rather than bottle size alone. |
| Concentrate strength | Follow the ratio on the chosen bottle when filling jugs. Sainsbury’s lists one part concentrate to nine parts water for Robinsons 1L Summer Fruits Double Concentrate, compared with one to four for its 2L Orange bottle. | A smaller bottle would be convenient to store, but I can measure the concentrate when making the drinks. |
| Diluted nutrition | Compare sugars and energy for the prepared drink at the same serving size, rather than comparing undiluted concentrate with a ready-to-drink figure. Sainsbury’s lists 2.4g sugars per 250ml prepared serving for its No Added Sugar High Juice Orange. | I want to know what is in the drink I will actually pour. Fruit content matters to me, but I will check the diluted sugars too. |
| Ingredients | Read the exact flavour’s ingredient and allergen information. The Sainsbury’s High Juice Orange and M&S Orange Squash products discussed here list sulphites and sweeteners; M&S also gives age-specific serving guidance for its orange squash. | Someone at the party may need an ingredient check, so I want the bottle available to refer to before serving. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
No-added-sugar squash can contain naturally occurring sugars and sweeteners. Sainsbury’s lists 2.4g sugars per 250ml prepared serving for its High Juice Orange variety.
Compare the nutrition for prepared servings of the same size, then read the full ingredient lists.
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Planning drinks by bottle size alone
Concentrate strengths differ: the Robinsons 2L Orange and 1L Summer Fruits Double Concentrate products listed by Sainsbury’s both state 40 servings, despite their different bottle sizes and dilution ratios.
Use each bottle’s stated servings and preparation instructions to plan the amount of drink, allowing for the guest count and other drinks available.
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Assuming every flavour has the same ingredients
The Sainsbury’s High Juice Orange and M&S Orange Squash products discussed here list sulphites. An ingredient restriction needs a check against the bottle being served, not just the brand or flavour category.
Read the current label, keep it available at the party and arrange a suitable alternative for a guest who cannot have an ingredient.
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Offering only flavoured drinks
NHS guidance identifies water and milk as the preferred drinks for children; choosing no-added-sugar squash does not remove the value of offering water.
Put plain water alongside the diluted squash so guests have a choice.
Brand and retailer ranges
These references describe particular listed products or ranges, not every squash made or sold under each name.
Robinsons
Sainsbury’s lists a 2L No Added Sugar Orange bottle and a 1L Summer Fruits Double Concentrate with different dilution instructions.
- Both listings state 40 servings, giving hosts a starting point for quantity planning.
- Check the ingredients of the exact product and measure it according to its own dilution instructions.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists a No Added Sugar Quadruple Strength Orange Squash in a 1.5L bottle.
- The named bottle offers a quadruple-strength format to consider when comparing concentrates.
- Check its own dilution, prepared-serving nutrition and ingredients before comparing it with another bottle.
Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s lists a 1L No Added Sugar High Juice Orange squash with 50% fruit juice.
- Its listed 2.4g sugars per 250ml prepared serving gives a defined basis for comparing diluted drinks.
- Fruit percentage alone does not establish sugar content or ingredient suitability; check the full label.
M&S
M&S describes its 1.5L Orange Squash as double strength, with 20% fruit and no added sugar.
- The stated strength and fruit content help distinguish this orange bottle when comparing labels.
- M&S lists sucralose and E223 sulphites and says this product is not suitable for babies; follow the guidance on the exact bottle.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists an own-brand Apple & Elderflower No Added Sugar High Juice squash.
- It gives shoppers another flavour and high-juice format to consider.
- Compare the chosen bottle’s prepared-drink nutrition, dilution and ingredients rather than assuming all high-juice varieties are alike.
Joybuy squash options
These no-added-sugar squash options include single bottles and a multipack for party preparation. Use the exact bottle’s dilution and serving instructions when working out quantities; these products are not the same variants as every bottle discussed above.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
This 1L orange squash is an option for preparing a party drink in jugs.
Check its dilution instructions to plan quantities, and read the bottle’s ingredient and age guidance before serving.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 1L
This 1L summer-fruits squash offers another flavour for jugs at a party.
Follow this bottle’s own dilution instructions rather than applying the ratio of a different Robinsons variety, and check its ingredients for guests with restrictions.
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Robinsons No Added Sugar Summer Fruits Squash 6 × 1L
The six-bottle pack is a format to consider when preparing several jugs.
Use the bottle’s dilution instructions to calculate prepared volume. Check its current nutrition label before comparing sugars with another squash, and read the ingredients for guest restrictions.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit Squash No Added Sugar 850ml
This 850ml pineapple and passion-fruit squash adds a different flavour option for a party.
Check the bottle’s preparation instructions and compare nutrition for the diluted drink, rather than using a figure for undiluted concentrate. Read the ingredients before serving guests with restrictions.
Questions about party squash
Does “no added sugar” mean squash is sugar-free?
No. A no-added-sugar squash can still contain naturally occurring sugars and sweeteners. For example, Sainsbury’s lists 2.4g sugars per 250ml prepared serving for its No Added Sugar High Juice Orange; check the diluted-drink nutrition and ingredients on the bottle you choose.
How much drink does a 40-serving bottle make?
If the stated serving is 250ml, 40 servings make 10L of prepared drink. Sainsbury’s gives that serving basis for Robinsons 2L Orange No Added Sugar; follow that bottle’s one-part-concentrate-to-four-parts-water instructions when making it.
Should I offer water alongside squash?
Yes. NHS guidance identifies water and milk as the preferred drinks for children. Make plain water available alongside diluted squash so guests can choose between them.
What should I check for guests with allergies or intolerances?
Read the current label on every exact flavour you intend to serve and keep the bottle available for reference. The Sainsbury’s High Juice Orange and M&S Orange Squash products discussed here list sulphites; do not assume another flavour has identical ingredients.
Is every no-added-sugar squash suitable for babies?
No: the no-added-sugar claim does not establish age suitability. M&S says its Orange Squash is not suitable for babies, so follow the guidance on the exact product rather than applying one bottle’s instructions to another.