Workers changing their lunchtime drink
If you usually bring a sugary squash or soft drink, a no-added-sugar option gives you another way to flavour water. The NHS suggests water or sugar-free, diet and no-added-sugar drinks instead of sugary squash.
Who is this for?
People using a work water bottle
A mini concentrate can go in a bag, while a standard bottle can stay at work. Check the mixing directions: a serving of Robinsons Summer Fruits Mini is stated as 3.3ml in 250ml water, whereas larger concentrates use different ratios.
Lunch planners checking ingredients
If sweeteners, sulphites or fruit content affect your choice, read the exact product label alongside its prepared-drink nutrition. Products carrying the same no-added-sugar claim can have different ingredient lists.
What should you check before buying?
Start with the prepared drink, not just the front-of-bottle claim. Then match the dilution and bottle size to where you will make your lunch drink.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sugars and calories | Read the no-added-sugar claim alongside calories and ‘of which sugars’ for the prepared drink. Compare the same volume and follow each bottle’s dilution instructions. | I want fruit flavour at lunch without assuming ‘no added sugar’ means no sugars. Naturally occurring fruit sugars can still appear in the nutrition panel. |
| Ingredients | Check the current label for sweeteners and sulphites. If vegan suitability matters, look for a declaration on the particular bottle rather than relying on the brand name. | If I avoid a particular ingredient, I need to check the squash I am buying, not just its no-added-sugar wording. |
| Mixing and bottle size | Check the stated serving size and ratio before choosing a mini, standard or high-concentration bottle. Robinsons Orange specifies 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water; Tesco Quadruple Strength Tropical specifies 1 part to 19 parts water, according to their product listings. | A small pack may fit my commute; a larger bottle makes more sense if I can leave it at work and use it regularly. |
| Fruit content | Compare the fruit percentage on the exact product and read the rest of its ingredients. M&S lists 20% fruit for its Orange Squash and 50% fruit juice for Lemon and Lime High Juice. | Fruit content matters to me, but I still want to know what sweeteners or other ingredients are in the drink. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading ‘no added sugar’ as ‘sugar-free’
Fruit ingredients can contribute sugars even when none has been added. Waitrose & Partners lists naturally occurring sugars for its Essential Apple & Blackcurrant squash.
Check ‘of which sugars’ on the nutrition panel for the drink as prepared, as well as the claim on the front.
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Comparing different serving sizes
A figure for a 250ml diluted glass cannot be read as the same serving as a figure for a 300ml glass or 100ml of prepared drink.
Use the labelled dilution and compare nutrition on a common prepared-drink volume where the information allows it.
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Assuming the claim tells you the full ingredient list
No-added-sugar products can contain sweeteners or sulphites. The ingredients differ between individual formulations.
Read the label of the bottle you will use, especially if you need to identify sulphites or avoid a particular sweetener.
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Choosing a large bottle without a storage plan
A high serving count is less useful for one occasional drinker if the bottle is awkward to keep or use after opening.
Choose a size that fits your routine and follow that bottle’s opened-storage instructions.
Brand and retailer examples
These examples show why it helps to compare individual formulations rather than treating every squash from a brand or retailer alike.
Robinsons
Its range includes standard concentrates and mini formats for adding to a water bottle.
- Waitrose & Partners lists Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar with 20 servings and a 1:4 dilution instruction; its stated diluted glass contains 3 kcal.
- That Orange product lists acesulfame K and sucralose, so check its ingredients if sweeteners affect your choice.
Tesco
Its Quadruple Strength Tropical No Added Sugar squash is a high-concentration option for a bottle kept at work.
- Tesco Groceries labels the 1.5L bottle as 100 servings and specifies 1 part squash to 19 parts water.
- Measure the concentrate when mixing; Tesco’s stated 5 kcal and 0.5g sugars apply to a 300ml glass prepared as directed.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar 1L, providing another product listing to consult for that particular squash.
- The listing gives a 250ml diluted serving, a 1:4 mixing instruction and 20 servings per bottle.
- This Robinsons listing does not describe the formulation of Sainsbury's own-label squash.
M&S
Two M&S formulations provide different stated fruit percentages for shoppers comparing that feature.
- M&S labels its Orange Squash as 20% fruit and its Lemon and Lime High Juice as 50% fruit juice; both say no added sugar.
- Both product ingredient lists include sucralose and sulphites. A higher fruit percentage does not replace an ingredient check.
Waitrose
Essential No Added Sugar Apple & Blackcurrant is a double-strength concentrate with a stated serving count.
- Waitrose & Partners lists 60 servings and suggests 1 part squash to 9 parts water; a prepared 250ml serving is stated as 4 kcal and 0.5g sugars.
- The product contains naturally occurring sugars, so compare its prepared-drink nutrition rather than treating the claim as sugar-free.
Joybuy squash options
These concentrates offer no-added-sugar flavour options for a drink mixed for an office lunch. Compare the exact label and dilution instructions before choosing between bottle sizes and flavours.
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Robinsons Orange No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A standard-size orange concentrate for mixing a drink at work. The Robinsons Orange 1L product listings state 3 kcal per 250ml diluted glass and a 1:4 mixing instruction. Check the current bottle for sweeteners, sulphites and storage directions.
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Ribena Blackcurrant No Added Sugar Concentrate 1.5L
A 1.5L blackcurrant concentrate to consider if you can keep a bottle at work. Follow its mixing directions and check the prepared-drink nutrition on the current label if calories or sugars will determine your choice.
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Ribena Pineapple and Passion Fruit No Added Sugar Squash 850ml
An 850ml fruit-flavoured concentrate for preparing a lunch drink. If you are comparing it with another squash, check its mixing instructions and nutrition for the prepared drink rather than comparing concentrate values with diluted ones.
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Robinsons Fruit Creations Exotic Pineapple, Mango & Passion Fruit Squash 1L
A 1L concentrate for someone choosing pineapple, mango and passion fruit flavour. Read the current label for its dilution instructions and prepared-drink nutrition before making a serving comparison.
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Robinsons Summer Fruits No Added Sugar Squash 1L
A 1L summer-fruit concentrate for mixing a work-lunch drink. Check the bottle’s dilution, prepared-drink nutrition, ingredients and opened-storage instructions for the serving you intend to make.
Frequently asked questions
Does no added sugar mean a squash contains no sugars?
No. Sugars can occur naturally in fruit ingredients. For example, Waitrose & Partners lists 0.3g sugars per 100ml of prepared Vimto No Added Sugar squash; check the ‘of which sugars’ figure and its stated preparation basis on the product you choose.
How can I compare calories between two squash bottles?
Compare the drinks after dilution on the same volume basis. Robinsons Orange listings use a 250ml diluted glass, while Tesco Quadruple Strength Tropical uses a 300ml prepared glass, so their per-glass numbers describe different quantities.
Which squash format works for a reusable office bottle?
A mini concentrate is designed to be added to a water bottle; Robinsons states a 3.3ml serving of Summer Fruits Mini in 250ml water. A larger bottle may suit a workplace cupboard instead, provided you can measure its stated dilution and follow its storage instructions.
Do no-added-sugar squashes contain sweeteners?
Some do. The Robinsons Orange and Tesco Quadruple Strength Tropical product listings name acesulfame K and sucralose. Read the ingredients on the particular bottle if either sweetener affects your choice.
What should I check if I need to identify sulphites?
Read the ingredients on the physical bottle before drinking it. M&S lists sulphites in its Orange Squash and Lemon and Lime High Juice; do not assume another flavour or formulation has the same ingredients.