Health News

Harmful Bladder Tea

Bubble tea carries health risks

05/25/2012

After a few days ago, the technicians had already informed health insurance companies about the potential health risks of the fashion drinks bubble tea, now warns the consumer center Saxony in front of the brightly colored bladder tea.

Bubble tea is a true calorie bomb, carries an increased risk of swallowing and is included in the black tea content for infants anyway unsuitable, the experts warn. But the youth are not interested in such hints. They are literally magically attracted by the brightly colored appearance, the globules that burst on the tongue, and the sweet taste of the new fashion drink. In almost every shopping zone, there is now a bubble tea bar.

Bubble-Tea liquid fattening
Physicians, health insurances and consumer advocates see the development of the bubble teas as a cult drink among children and adolescents extremely critical. Especially the high sugar and calorie content is the concern of the experts. "With 300 to 500 kilocalories, a small cup of bubble tea can replace a main meal," emphasized the Uta Viertel of the Verbraucherzentrale Sachsen. For larger cups (500 milliliters), as offered in almost every bubble tea bar, the calorie intake increases to between 600 and 1,000 kilocalories. As a thirst quencher, the bladder tea is therefore completely unsuitable, even if the name as a tea blend drink quite something else suggests here. "The term tea is misleading for this drink," criticized consumer advocate Uta Viertel. Because usually tea is a calorie-free infusion based on parts of plants. Originally from Taiwan Bubble Tea is made from green or black tea, the actual taste is achieved by a neat shot of fruit syrup. The contained globules consist of starch of cassava root and are also soaked with fruit syrup.

Bladder tea increases the risk of being overweight
The high fruit syrup or sugar content makes the bubble tea to a veritable calorie bomb, which is why the Techniker health insurance in their press release last Monday has called the fashion drink as a "liquid fattening". Already in 200 milliliters one third of the daily energy requirement of a child is included, according to the statement of the nutritionist of the TK, Mechthild Fröhlich. As a result, regular bubble tea drinking increases the risk of obesity and associated complications such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Consumers should be clear that they "rather a candy than a thirst quencher" to take, according to the TK nutrition expert. The consumer center Saxon has also pointed out that bubble tea with black tea content is inappropriate because of the caffeine for children anyway.

Warning on bubble tea required
Like the professional association of paediatricians (BVKJ) already at the beginning of March, the Verbraucherzentrale Sachsen in their current communication points to the danger of swallowing the bubble tea. "Bubble teas are even dangerous for toddlers, because" the bullets get into the lungs via the trachea and can cause health problems, "explained Uta Viertel. According to the BVKJ, the worst case scenario is pulmonary collapse in such situations. Therefore, in the opinion of the Consumer Center, a corresponding warning should be required by law. (Fp)