The fruit content of many fruit-flavoured drinks and snacks is either minimal or non-existent, according to a report published on Monday. A survey of strawberry-flavoured drinks, yoghurts, jelly and other snacks found that fewer than 40 per cent contained any real fruit. (Daily Telegraph)Of 28 products examined by the campaign group the Food Commission, only 11 contained real strawberries.
Five of these - Jordans Frusli All Fruit Strawberry bars, Jubbly Strawberry ice lollies, Asda Great Stuff Strawberry Milk and strawberry teabags produced by Sainsbury's and Tesco - contained less than one per cent real strawberries.
There are about 2,700 flavourings that can be added to food, but manufacturers are not required to state on packaging which flavourings have been used and whether they are natural or artificial.
The commission said manufacturers should have to list all the flavourings used. Its spokesman, Ian Tokelove, said that while the study had focused on strawberry-flavoured products, the findings applied to other fruit-flavoured foodstuffs and drinks.
He added: "Describing a product as strawberry flavour and plastering the packet with pictures of strawberries, when that product contains just a tiny percentage of strawberry or even no real fruit at all, is misleading and deceptive. Unfortunately, it is also legal and widespread.