McDONALD’S launches a “healthy” drink for kids today — that contains 12 teaspoons of sugar.

 

The fast food giant says Fruitizz gives children one of the recommended five portions of fruit and veg a day.

 

But a large 500ml cup contains a whopping 200 calories and 49 grams of sugar.

 

Health bosses recommend that youngsters have no more than 50 grams of sugar in a DAY.

 

Dietitian Christina Merryfield, of London’s Bupa Cromwell Hospital, said: “A large cup of this drink has more sugar than a can of Fanta.

 

“Sugary drinks can encourage tooth decay and erosion and lead to weight gain. Water is a much better option and milk is great because it is full of calcium and other vitamins and minerals.”

 

Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum said: “For a drink purporting to be healthy having this much sugar is appalling. The danger to children is incredible.”

 

McDonald’s says it spent three years developing a drink which “excites children, but also delivers nutritional benefits”.

 

Fruitizz — made under licence by Coca-Cola — is a mixture of 60 per cent fruit juice from grapes, apples and raspberries and sparkling water. It is served from taps like soft drinks such as Coke.

 

A McDonald’s spokesman said: “It is very difficult to reduce the calorie content of fruit juice drinks without introducing artificial sweeteners.

 

"Just like all fruit juices, Fruitizz contains natural sugars that come from the fruit, which is why Fruitizz counts as one of your five a day."

 

daniel.jones@the-sun.co.uk