International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition

Authors
RA Sümeyye Güzel, Alev Keser, Şükrü Hatun

Abstract
Obesity is an important public health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent. It is thought that high-energy sugar sweetened drinks have a role in obesity reaching epidemic rates. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate nutritional values of some beverages sold widely in supermarkets. The study analyzed the energy, total fat, saturated fat, carbonhydrate and sugar contents 100 mL/per based on the label information on 237 different packaged beverages supplied by 6 hypermarkets located in Ankara/Turkey. the products in the scope of the study, the highest sugar contents were found in fruity beverages (11.5±1.22 g/100 mL). Fruit/cacao milks also had much higher sugar contents than many other beverage groups by 10.5±0.07 g/100 mL sugar. All drinks exceeded the sugar content amounts declared in the health statement included in the Turkish Food Codex Labeling Regulation. Sugar contents of the ready-to-consume drinks are very high. Therefore, producers should quit adding excessive amounts of sugar to these beverages.