People avoiding added and total sugars
Plain sparkling mineral or spring water is a straightforward starting point. Check the particular bottle’s nutrition panel for 0g sugars rather than relying on a no-added-sugar claim.
Who is each type for?
The useful distinction is whether you want zero total sugars, flavour without sweeteners, or simply a conveniently sized drink to take to work.
People who want flavour without sweeteners
Look for a statement about both sugars and sweeteners on the exact flavoured drink. Sanpellegrino describes Essenza as containing neither, but that description does not apply to every drink it makes.
People packing a drink for work
An individual 500ml portion can go into a lunch bag without bringing the whole multipack. If you plan to drink it at your desk instead, a larger bottle may be worth considering.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the sugars value and ingredients, then choose a flavour and pack format that work for your lunch.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Total sugars | Read the “of which sugars” value and ingredients. A no-added-sugar claim alone does not establish 0g sugars: M&S lists 6.7g sugars per 100g for its juice-containing Juicy Rhubarb drink. | I want a drink with zero total sugars, not just one with no sugar added during production. |
| Flavour and sweeteners | Check the exact flavour’s ingredients and nutrition panel. Sanpellegrino describes Essenza as having no sugars or sweeteners; other flavoured drinks can have different formulations. | Plain water does not appeal to me, but I would rather avoid both sugar and sweeteners. |
| Lunch-bag format | Compare the size of each individual container, not just the multipack. Highland Spring lists both 500ml and 1.5L sparkling-water bottles. | For a packed lunch, I would rather carry one smaller, unopened portion than a bottle intended for sharing. |
| Use after opening | Check the container type and whether the particular pack is resealable if you expect to put an unfinished drink back in your bag. | I may finish my drink at my desk, or I may need to carry it again after lunch. |
What can catch you out?
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Reading “no added sugar” as “sugar-free”
A juice-containing drink may have no added sugar yet still contain sugars. M&S Juicy Rhubarb lists apple juice from concentrate and 6.7g sugars per 100g.
If zero total sugars is your aim, check the “of which sugars” line on the product you intend to buy.
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Choosing a large bottle for an individual lunch
A 1L or 1.5L bottle takes up more room in a lunch bag than a 500ml serving and may be awkward to carry if unfinished.
Check the size of each bottle in the pack against what you want to take to work.
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Assuming every flavoured water has the same ingredients
Sanpellegrino’s no-sugar, no-sweetener statement applies to Essenza; it should not be extended to all flavoured sparkling drinks.
Read the ingredients and nutrition panel for the exact flavour and format you choose.
Which brands and ranges are relevant?
Use these ranges to identify the kind of drink you want, then check the label on the particular product and pack.
S.Pellegrino
The range includes plain sparkling natural mineral water and the separately formulated Essenza flavoured sparkling mineral water.
- Sanpellegrino says Essenza contains no sugars or sweeteners.
- Do not apply the Essenza statement to its fruit-based sparkling drinks; check the exact range and label.
Highland Spring
Its plain sparkling spring-water range includes a 500ml bottle as well as larger formats.
- The 500ml format gives you an individual portion to carry with lunch.
- Check the size of each bottle in a multipack; a 1L or 1.5L bottle serves a different carrying need.
Perrier
Perrier describes its plain carbonated mineral water as containing no sugar.
- A plain-water option for someone who does not want a flavoured drink.
- Confirm the format and nutrition label on the particular UK product before buying.
Tesco
Tesco lists its own-label British Natural Mineral Water Sparkling in a 12×500ml pack alongside branded sparkling waters.
- The listed pack contains individual 500ml portions for work lunches.
- Check the specific product label rather than assuming every drink in the sparkling-water category has the same ingredients.
M&S
Its Juicy Rhubarb Sparkling Spring Water illustrates the difference between no added sugar and zero total sugars.
- The product identifies its juice-containing recipe and lists sugars on the nutrition panel.
- With apple juice from concentrate and 6.7g sugars per 100g, it is not equivalent to a drink labelled 0g sugars.
Plain sparkling-water options at Joybuy
These options cover plain sparkling water in individual 500ml portions or larger 1L bottles. If you want a flavoured or juice-containing drink, use the label checks above rather than treating this selection as covering those types.
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Cano Water Sparkling Resealable 12×500ml
The pack has twelve individual 500ml portions for taking one with lunch. If you expect to carry an unfinished drink, check that the resealable packaging suits your bag; check the nutrition label if 0g sugars is essential.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 0.5L
Six individual 0.5L bottles offer a plain-water portion to take with lunch. The Joybuy product information lists natural mineral water and carbon dioxide as ingredients and 0g sugars per 100ml.
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Buxton Sparkling 8 × 500ml
This eight-pack provides individual 500ml portions for packed lunches. Check the nutrition panel if your choice depends on a stated 0g sugars value, and check the bottle closure if you plan to carry it after opening.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 1L
Six 1L bottles may suit keeping sparkling water at a desk. Each bottle is larger to carry with an individual packed lunch than a 500ml option; check this variant’s label if you need a stated 0g sugars value.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6 × 1L
This six-pack of 1L sparkling spring-water bottles suits keeping a larger bottle at work more readily than carrying one in a small lunch bag. If zero total sugars determines your choice, check the product label for the sugars value.
Common questions
Does “no added sugar” mean a sparkling drink contains no sugar?
No. It does not tell you the finished drink’s total sugars value. M&S Juicy Rhubarb is described as having no added sugar, yet its nutrition panel lists 6.7g sugars per 100g and its ingredients include apple juice from concentrate. Check the “of which sugars” line if you want 0g sugars.
What should I choose if I want no sugar or sweeteners with lunch?
Start with plain sparkling water and check the exact product’s label. The Joybuy information for San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6 × 0.5L lists natural mineral water and carbon dioxide, with 0g sugars per 100ml. For a flavoured option, Sanpellegrino says its Essenza range contains no sugars or sweeteners; check that you are buying that range rather than a different sparkling drink.
What if I do not enjoy still water?
Sparkling water is another option: the NHS suggests trying it if you do not like the taste of water. For a work lunch, choose a container size you are comfortable carrying and check the ingredients and sugars value if those affect your choice.