Ökotester Healthy or unhealthy? Green smoothies with as much sugar as cola

Ökot test criticizes high sugar content in green smoothies
While soft drinks, iced tea and co are generally considered unhealthy drinks because of their high sugar content, most consumers consider smoothies to be rather healthy. However, "eco-test" found in a recent study of green smoothies that one in five contained too much sugar. In some drinks was similar sugar as in Coca-Cola, so the message of the magazine.

Green smoothies are said to have many positive attributes, especially given the high vitamin content. "Öko-Test" has now addressed the question of how healthy green smoothies from the retail sector really are. The consumer magazine had 20 products examined in the laboratory for this purpose. Above all, the high sugar content and the low proportion of vegetables was a cause for criticism. Many smoothies are therefore not what consumers expect from them. However, at least six smoothies were rated as "very good" or "good".

Green smoothies from the supermarket often contain a high sugar content. Image: Zerbor / fotolia.com

Low vegetable content in many products
As part of the study, the smoothies analyzed the levels of sugar, vitamin C and fiber. In addition, the laboratory checked the pollution and the taste. According to the testers, it was found that "the vegetable content of some smoothies is far too low." For two products, the proportion was below ten percent, while the two "very good" products in the test, a proportion of vegetables and 50 percent 68.3 percent was achieved.

Some smoothies do not contain any vitamin C.
Regarding the vitamin content, the testers found that in six smoothies no vitamin C was detectable and in many products only a content at the lowest level was present. Their reputation as vitamin bombs therefore many smoothies are wrong. However, the two "very good" products and the four "good" products were also convincing at this point.

Sugar content as in Coca-Cola
Particularly critical is the high sugar content detected in four products. "With more than ten grams of sugar per 100 milliliters, these beverages contain as much as Coca-Cola", according to the statement from "Öko-Test". Even with the small bottles, this quickly added up to more than 25 grams - the maximum amount that adults should take daily, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). It does not matter whether it is white table sugar or natural sugar from fruit juices.

Ingredients often declared misleading
The declaration was also a cause for criticism at nine smoothies. A description such as "Acai + spinach & kale" on the front of the packaging is not very consumer friendly, if the smoothie mainly consists of apple and banana, so "eco-test". Nevertheless, the mixed drinks made from apple, banana, spinach and co can sometimes replace fresh fruit and vegetables. However, one should not only rely on green smoothies, but also eat fresh fruit and vegetables, warns the consumer magazine.

According to the "Öko-Test", the pollutant load test was overall positive and pollutants were not found, or at best, in harmless traces. (Fp)