Office workers packing a drink with lunch
If a single bottle is going in your lunch bag, compare the 330ml and 400ml formats with the amount you expect to drink.
Who is this for?
Shoppers comparing labels
Check sugars and protein on the same per-100ml basis, then read the ingredients and allergen information on the bottle you intend to buy.
People choosing a protein-focused drink
If labelled protein is the main reason for buying a shake, compare protein-focused drinks separately from conventional flavoured milkshakes. Bottle size, ingredients and post-opening storage still matter.
What should you check?
Start with the amount you want alongside lunch, compare nutrition figures on an equal-volume basis, then check ingredients and storage directions for the exact product.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle size | Tesco lists 400ml for both Yazoo Chocolate and Mars No Added Sugar; Müller lists 330ml for FRijj Chocolate. Check whether you intend to finish the bottle at lunch. | A 400ml bottle suits me if I want a larger drink; a 330ml bottle may be enough alongside the rest of my lunch. |
| Nutrition label | Compare figures per 100ml before comparing whole bottles. Tesco lists 6.5g sugars per 100ml for Mars and 8.6g for Yazoo; Müller lists 11.4g for FRijj Chocolate. Mars’s No Added Sugar label does not mean sugar-free. | I want to read the nutrition label rather than rely on the front of the bottle. In the Food Standards Agency and Ipsos Northern Ireland’s 2024 survey of 611 people, 49% actively used traffic-light labelling when shopping for food; that figure is not specific to milkshakes. |
| Protein | Check whether the figure is per 100ml or per bottle. Sainsbury’s lists 25g protein per 385ml bottle for Müller Myprotein Strawberry; the standard chocolate drinks have different per-100ml figures. | If protein is my main buying criterion, I want to compare the stated amount for the whole drink without assuming a protein shake replaces lunch. |
| Storage | Follow the exact pack directions, particularly after opening. Tesco says to refrigerate opened Yazoo and Mars bottles and drink them within three days; Sainsbury’s gives two days for the opened Müller Myprotein shake. | I need a plan for keeping an opened bottle refrigerated at work, rather than treating UHT wording as permission to leave it on my desk. |
| Ingredients | Read the current allergen and ingredient lists. The compared standard drinks contain milk or milk-derived ingredients; Tesco also lists barley and sweeteners for Mars No Added Sugar. | Milk, barley or sweeteners may rule out a particular bottle for me, regardless of its size or flavour. |
Common buying mistakes
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Reading “No Added Sugar” as “sugar-free”
Tesco lists naturally occurring sugars and 6.5g sugars per 100ml for Mars No Added Sugar.
Read the nutrition table and ingredients as well as the front-of-pack wording. If you expect to finish the bottle, consider its full 400ml volume.
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Comparing bottle sizes but not equal volumes
The named Mars and Yazoo bottles are 400ml, while Müller FRijj Chocolate is 330ml. Their listed sugars per 100ml also differ.
Compare the per-100ml figures first, then decide which bottle volume fits your lunch.
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Assuming UHT removes the need to check storage
The product instructions for opened bottles still call for refrigeration. Leaving part of a bottle on a desk does not follow those directions.
Check the pack before packing it, and refrigerate any opened bottle for the period stated on its label.
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Buying by flavour without reading the ingredients
The compared standard drinks contain milk or milk-derived ingredients; the Mars product also lists barley and sweeteners.
Check the current bottle label whenever an allergen or ingredient affects your choice.
Brand and product references
These details concern the named chocolate products, not every drink made by each brand.
Yazoo
Tesco lists Yazoo Chocolate Milk Drink in a 400ml bottle.
- Yazoo says this chocolate drink contains no artificial sweeteners, flavours or colours.
- Tesco lists 8.6g sugars and 3.2g protein per 100ml. It contains milk and must be refrigerated after opening.
Müller FRijj
Müller describes FRijj as thick and smooth; its Favourites Chocolate Flavour example is a 330ml bottle.
- The 330ml format is an option when a smaller single bottle fits alongside lunch.
- Müller lists 11.4g sugars and 3.7g protein per 100ml for this product, which contains milk-derived ingredients.
Mars
Tesco lists Mars Chocolate Flavoured Milk Drink No Added Sugar in a 400ml bottle.
- Its listed 6.5g sugars per 100ml is lower than the per-100ml figures for the named Yazoo and FRijj chocolate drinks.
- No Added Sugar does not mean sugar-free. The product contains naturally occurring sugars, sweeteners, milk and barley.
Joybuy protein-shake options
These ready-to-drink protein shakes offer different pack and drink sizes for a work lunch. They are not the Yazoo, Mars or FRijj standard milkshakes compared above; choose by the individual bottle or can size as well as the pack size.
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Applied Nutrition Vanilla Ice Cream Protein Nutrition Shake, 8 × 500ml
Each 500ml bottle is a larger individual drink for an office lunch; the pack contains eight bottles. Check the label if milk or sucralose is unsuitable for you. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.
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Applied Nutrition Strawberries & Cream Protein Nutrition Shake, 8 × 330ml
Each 330ml bottle is a smaller individual drink than the 500ml Applied Nutrition option; the pack contains eight bottles. Check the label if milk or sucralose is unsuitable for you. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within 12 hours.
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REP Vanilla Protein Shake, 8 × 250ml
Each 250ml can is a smaller individual drink rather than a large lunch bottle; the pack contains eight cans. Check the label if milk is unsuitable for you. Once opened, refrigerate and consume within 24 hours.
Questions about packing a milkshake
Can I put a UHT milkshake in an office packed lunch?
Yes, if you follow the exact pack’s storage directions and can keep it as directed after opening. Tesco says opened Yazoo and Mars bottles should be refrigerated and consumed within three days; Sainsbury’s gives two days for the opened Müller Myprotein shake. Check the bottle before deciding how to pack it for work.
Does “No Added Sugar” mean the Mars milkshake is sugar-free?
No. Tesco says Mars No Added Sugar contains naturally occurring sugars and lists 6.5g sugars per 100ml. Read the nutrition table and ingredients rather than relying on the front-of-pack claim.
Which of the compared standard bottles is larger?
Tesco lists both Yazoo Chocolate and Mars No Added Sugar at 400ml, while Müller lists FRijj Chocolate at 330ml. Choose the amount you expect to drink alongside lunch, then compare the labels for those exact products.
Which allergens should I check?
The compared standard milkshakes contain milk or milk-derived ingredients, and Tesco also lists barley for Mars No Added Sugar. Read the current label of the exact bottle before buying if an allergen affects your choice.
Can a standard milkshake replace lunch?
Do not assume a flavoured milk drink is a complete lunch. If labelled protein is your main buying criterion, compare a protein-focused drink separately: Sainsbury’s lists 25g protein per 385ml bottle for Müller Myprotein Strawberry. Consider its ingredients, bottle size and what else you plan to pack.