Brunch hosts comparing sugar labels
When serving several people, compare 100% juice, ready-to-drink juice drinks and squash as different products. Check the amount served as well as the sugars figure on each label.
Who is choosing?
The useful starting point for a Sunday brunch is whether guests want orange-only juice or an orange-flavoured alternative with a different sugar and ingredient profile.
Shoppers who want orange-only juice
If the ingredient list matters most, look for 100% orange juice. The NHS notes that its naturally occurring sugars still count as free sugars once the fruit is juiced.
Shoppers checking for sweeteners
A no-added-sugar orange drink or squash may contain sweeteners. Read the ingredients alongside the nutrition panel if either sweeteners or the proportion of orange juice affects your choice.
What should you check?
Decide what type of orange drink you want before comparing sugar figures, and use the nutrition values for the drink as it will be served.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and serving | Compare sugars per 100ml on ready-to-drink labels, then check the amount you intend to pour. The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars. | I want to know how much sugar is in the glass I serve, not just whether the front of the pack says “no added sugar”. |
| Orange content | Read the food name and ingredients to distinguish 100% orange juice from an orange juice drink. Tesco Groceries lists 8% orange juice from concentrate in its checked Whole Orange Juice Drink No Added Sugar. | Is an orange-only drink important for brunch, or would I rather choose a juice drink with a different ingredient mix? |
| Sweeteners | Check the ingredients separately from the sugars figure. The checked Tesco orange juice drink lists sucralose; a no-added-sugar claim does not mean a drink is unsweetened. | If I prefer to avoid sweeteners, I need to check the ingredient list before choosing a lower-sugar orange drink. |
| Squash preparation | Follow the bottle’s dilution directions and compare nutrition values for the prepared drink. ASDA Groceries lists 1.0g sugars per 100ml for its High Juice Orange when diluted one part squash to four parts water. | I’m happy to mix squash for the table, but I want to compare what will be in the finished glass. |
Common label mistakes
-
Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
Unsweetened orange juice can contain sugars from the fruit. Tropicana UK lists 13g sugars per 150ml for its checked Smooth Orange juice, and the NHS counts sugars in unsweetened juice as free sugars.
Read the sugars line per 100ml and for the serving you plan to pour, as well as the product name.
-
Comparing undiluted squash with a ready-to-drink product
Squash is a concentrate. ASDA Groceries’ 1.0g sugars per 100ml figure for its checked High Juice Orange applies when it is diluted as directed.
Prepare squash according to its label before comparing the sugar in a glass with a ready-to-drink juice or juice drink.
-
Assuming a lower sugar figure means the same fruit content
A juice drink can have a different ingredient list from 100% juice. Tesco Groceries lists water, 8% orange juice from concentrate and sucralose in its checked no-added-sugar orange juice drink.
Choose which matters more to you: orange-only juice, the declared sugar amount or avoiding sweeteners. Check each separately on the label.
-
Relying on a product title alone
A title cannot tell you the full ingredient mix or how a drink should be prepared.
Before buying, check the current pack name, ingredients, nutrition panel and, for squash, dilution instructions.
Brand and product references
These examples describe particular labelled products, not every orange drink sold under each brand.
Tropicana
Tropicana UK describes its checked Smooth Orange juice as orange juice not from concentrate.
- Its listed ingredient is orange juice; the label gives 13g sugars per 150ml.
- No added sugar does not remove the free sugars that the NHS counts in juice.
Innocent
The checked Innocent Smooth Orange Juice is a 100% orange juice option.
- Tesco Groceries lists 7.8g sugars per 100ml and 12g per 150ml for the 900ml product.
- Its juice sugars still count as free sugars under NHS guidance.
Tesco
Tesco’s checked Whole Orange Juice Drink No Added Sugar is a juice drink, not 100% orange juice.
- Tesco Groceries lists its orange juice from concentrate content as 8%.
- The ingredients include water and sucralose, so check whether that mix suits your preference.
Sainsbury’s
The checked Sainsbury’s Pure Orange Juice is 100% orange juice from concentrate.
- Sainsbury’s lists 8.0g sugars per 100ml.
- The sugars occur naturally in the fruit but count as free sugars once it is juiced, according to the NHS.
Asda
The checked Asda High Juice Orange is a squash to prepare with water, rather than a ready-to-drink juice.
- ASDA Groceries lists 1.0g sugars per 100ml when diluted as directed.
- Mix one part squash with four parts water for the stated prepared-drink figure; do not compare the concentrate directly with juice.
M&S
Marks & Spencer describes its checked Smooth Orange Juice as not from concentrate.
- Its product information states that it has no artificial sweeteners.
- The listed 9.3g sugars figure is per 100g, not per 100ml; check the measurement basis before comparing it with other labels.
Orange drinks on Joybuy
These options are orange-flavoured drinks and squash for the brunch table. Check each product’s ingredients and preparation instructions if you are choosing between a ready-to-drink beverage and a concentrate.
No image available
Robinsons No Added Sugar Orange Squash 1L
Choose this if you want to prepare an orange squash for brunch rather than pour a ready-to-drink juice. It is a concentrate: follow the pack’s dilution instructions, and check the prepared-drink nutrition and ingredients for your needs.
No image available
Fruitshoot Orange Low Sugar 8 × 200ml
The eight-bottle format offers individual ready-to-drink portions. This is an orange drink rather than 100% orange juice; its listed ingredients include sweeteners. The listing warns that the small caps make it unsuitable for children under 36 months.
No image available
Capri-Sun Zero Orange 8 × 200ml
The eight 200ml pouches provide individual ready-to-drink portions. This is not pure orange juice: the listed juice blend includes orange and lemon, and it contains sucralose. The Zero name conflicts with a stated 0.6g sugars per 100ml, so check the current pack label. The listing also warns that the straw makes it unsuitable for children under 3 years.
No image available
LIGHT UP Every Moment Orange with Multi-fruit 1L
This ready-to-drink carton may suit a table where a mixed-fruit drink is acceptable. Its listing title says “100% Orange Juice”, but the description identifies a drink with water and several fruits. Check the current pack name and ingredients before buying it as orange-only juice.
Questions about orange drinks
Does “no added sugar” mean orange juice is sugar-free?
No. Orange juice can contain sugars from the fruit even when none is added. The NHS counts sugars in unsweetened fruit juice as free sugars, so check the nutrition panel as well as the claim.
How do I compare 100% juice with an orange juice drink?
Compare sugars per 100ml for ready-to-drink products, then read their names and ingredients. For example, Tesco Groceries describes its checked no-added-sugar orange juice drink as containing water, 8% orange juice from concentrate and sucralose; that is a different choice from 100% orange juice.
Can I compare squash with orange juice?
Compare squash once it has been prepared as directed, not straight from the bottle. ASDA Groceries’ 1.0g sugars per 100ml figure for its checked High Juice Orange applies after dilution with four parts water to one part squash.
What should I check before serving orange drinks at brunch?
Check the food name, ingredients, sugars per 100ml, the amount you will serve and any dilution directions. These details help distinguish orange-only juice from juice drinks and squash, including products that contain sweeteners.