Picnic planners comparing sugar and calories
If you want a flavoured drink with lunch, compare figures for the squash as prepared. A no-added-sugar label alone does not tell you how much sugar is in the diluted glass.
Who is this choice for?
Families packing drinks for a group
A concentrate can make several drinks, but the bottle still needs to travel with enough water and something to mix or serve them in. Check the dilution and any instructions for children on the bottle you choose.
Shoppers checking sweeteners and allergens
Ingredient lists differ between squashes, including no-added-sugar varieties. Check the exact flavour and pack for sweeteners and sulphites; the NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU).
What should you check before buying?
No-added-sugar, double-strength and high-juice describe different aspects of squash, so one bottle can fit more than one description. Start with the prepared drink, then check what carrying and mixing it will involve.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared-drink nutrition | Compare sugars and kcal for the same prepared serving size, using each product’s stated dilution. Sainsbury's lists 0g sugars and 3kcal per diluted 250ml for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar, against 2.4g sugars and 17kcal per prepared 250ml for its own no-added-sugar High Juice Orange. | I want to know what is in the drink I will actually pour, rather than rely on the words ‘no added sugar’. If fruit-juice content matters more to me, I can weigh that against the declared sugars per glass. |
| Servings and carrying | Check bottle size, servings at the label dilution and how much water you must bring. Sainsbury's lists 20 servings from the 1L Robinsons standard Orange bottle at 1:4 dilution and 40 from the 1L Double Strength Orange at 1:9. | For a group, I would rather carry concentrate and mix drinks if there is enough water and room for a serving bottle or jug. A higher serving count is less useful if I cannot make up the drinks at the picnic. |
| Ingredients | Read the current ingredients and allergen information for the exact variety. No added sugar does not mean no sweeteners; the NHS states that aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU. | I need to check which sweeteners are used and whether the squash contains sulphites before sharing it with anyone whose ingredients need checking. |
| Drinks for children | Follow the chosen bottle’s dilution and age-related instructions. M&S says its Orange Squash is not suitable for babies and advises extra water if it is given to older children; instructions can differ by product. | I want water available alongside lunch, rather than relying on concentrate as the only drink. Northern Ireland public-health guidance advises limiting squash to mealtimes for children where possible. |
Picnic squash mistakes to avoid
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Assuming ‘no added sugar’ means zero sugar
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars to a prepared drink. Waitrose & Partners lists 0.8g sugars per diluted 250ml for Vimto No Added Sugar, while Sainsbury's lists 2.4g per prepared 250ml for its High Juice Orange No Added Sugar.
Read the ‘of which sugars’ figure and its serving basis on the exact bottle before comparing it with another squash.
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Mixing double-strength squash like standard squash
Sainsbury's gives a 1:4 concentrate-to-water ratio for Robinsons standard Orange No Added Sugar and 1:9 for its Double Strength Orange. Using the standard ratio for the double-strength bottle changes the prepared drink and the number of servings.
Follow the ratio on the bottle you packed; a marked bottle can make the first mix easier to measure.
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Choosing by the front label alone
No-added-sugar varieties can use different sweeteners and contain sulphites. Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar lists aspartame and sodium bisulphite on the Sainsbury's product information; the NHS says aspartame is unsuitable for people with PKU.
Check the current ingredients and allergen information for each flavour and size rather than assuming that one brand’s varieties are interchangeable.
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Packing concentrate without a mixing plan
Concentrate cannot be served as directed without water, and making drinks for several people also calls for a suitable bottle, jug or cups. Bottle size alone does not tell you how convenient it will be to carry.
Match the pack to your group, available water and bag space, and bring plain water separately.
Brand and range references
These examples illustrate label and format differences; a brand name does not establish the ingredients or prepared-drink nutrition of every variety it sells.
Robinsons
The Orange No Added Sugar examples listed by Sainsbury's include standard and double-strength 1L concentrates.
- Both Orange examples declare 0g sugars and 3kcal per diluted 250ml; the standard bottle uses 1:4 dilution and the Double Strength bottle 1:9.
- Their different ratios affect how much water to pack. Check the ingredients of the exact Robinsons variety rather than applying these Orange figures across the range.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label no-added-sugar squash in quadruple-strength varieties and a Stockwell & Co double-strength Orange variety.
- The listed formats give shoppers different bottle sizes and mixing strengths to consider.
- Check the selected variety’s dilution, prepared-serving nutrition and ingredients rather than transferring details from another Tesco squash.
Sainsbury's
Its no-added-sugar High Juice Orange is an option for shoppers specifically interested in fruit-juice content.
- Sainsbury's lists 50% orange juice in this product.
- Its declared prepared 250ml serving has 2.4g sugars and 17kcal; ‘no added sugar’ should not be read as a zero-sugar figure.
M&S
M&S lists double-strength Orange Squash alongside high-juice options.
- Its Orange Squash product page states 20% orange fruit from concentrate and no added sugar.
- The page gives nutrition per 100g, which should not be treated as a prepared 250ml serving. It also says the product is not suitable for babies and advises extra water for older children.
Waitrose
Waitrose & Partners lists Essential no-added-sugar squash, High Juice varieties and branded concentrates, including compact Robinsons Mini products.
- Its listed formats offer different options for the space available in a picnic bag.
- Read the chosen product’s label for its own nutrition, dilution and ingredients.
Asda
Asda has a no-added-sugar squash product in its grocery range.
- Use the exact pack label to assess its prepared-drink nutrition, ingredients and dilution before comparing it with another variety.
Joybuy squash options
These no-added-sugar concentrates offer flavours and pack sizes to consider for a picnic where you can bring water for mixing. Check each selected bottle’s label before planning servings or comparing prepared-drink nutrition.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A 1L orange concentrate for a picnic where you can mix drinks with water. Sainsbury's lists 0g sugars and 3kcal per diluted 250ml for Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar; follow the directions and check the ingredients on the bottle you receive.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Squash 1.5L
A 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate if you are packing drinks for several people. Check this pack’s dilution and prepared-serving nutrition when deciding how much water to bring; read its ingredients if aspartame or sulphites matter to your group.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 6 × 1L
The six-bottle pack may suit a larger gathering or drinks needed beyond one picnic, but consider how much of it you want to carry. Read the current pack’s dilution and prepared-serving sugar figures before working out quantities.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
This single 1L summer-fruit bottle is an alternative to carrying the six-pack. Use its own dilution instructions, and check the current nutrition and ingredient panels if you are comparing prepared servings or avoiding particular sweeteners.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
An 850ml pineapple and passion-fruit concentrate for a picnic with water available for mixing. Check the bottle’s dilution and prepared-serving nutrition before comparing it with another flavour, and read the ingredients if sweeteners or sulphites matter to you.
Common questions
Does ‘no added sugar’ mean squash has no sugar?
No. The prepared drink can still contain sugars from its ingredients. Waitrose & Partners lists 0.8g sugars per diluted 250ml for Vimto No Added Sugar, and Sainsbury's lists 2.4g per prepared 250ml for its High Juice Orange No Added Sugar. Compare the nutrition panel on the bottle you choose.
How much water should I use for picnic squash?
Follow the ratio for the exact bottle. Sainsbury's lists one part concentrate to four parts water for Robinsons standard Orange No Added Sugar, but one part to nine parts water for its Double Strength Orange. Pack enough water for the number of drinks you intend to make.
What should I check if someone has PKU?
Check whether the squash contains aspartame: the NHS says it is unsuitable for people with phenylketonuria (PKU). Sainsbury's lists aspartame in Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar, so do not assume that a no-added-sugar label answers this ingredient question.
Should squash be the only drink packed for children?
Pack water as well. Northern Ireland public-health guidance advises limiting squash or fruit juice to mealtimes for children where possible and encouraging water or milk. Follow any age-related and extra-water instructions on the squash you select.
How should I store an opened bottle before the picnic?
Follow that bottle’s storage directions rather than assuming every squash has the same instructions. Sainsbury's lists a dark, cool, dry place for Robinsons Summer Fruits Double Concentrate and says it tastes best within four weeks of opening; check the label of the variety you are packing.