How much sugar is there in a can of Coke? After fizzy drinks giant recalls product
Coca-Cola has announced a large-scale recall of several of its drinks after excessive levels of the chemical chlorate were found in some products.
The recalled drinks were due to be sold in the UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. An official UK recall has not yet been confirmed, but the Food Standards Agency has lodged an investigation into the matter and will update the public if this changes.
But with many of our favourite fizzy juices being ripped from the shelves amid safety concerns, we might want to rethink the effects carbonated juices can have on our health.
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It's common knowledge that fizzy juice is full of sugar, but just how much can be found in a can of Coke in 2025? Here's everything you need to know about sugar in fizzy drinks.
How much sugar is there in a can of Coke?
A 330 ml can of Coca-Cola in the UK contains 35 grams of sugar. This comes to around nine teaspoons, which is considerably more than other fizzy drinks.
A can of Dr Pepper has around 14 grams of sugar, while a can of Fanta and a can of Irn Bru (which changed its recipe to lower sugar content in 2018) has around 15 grams- less than half the amount of sugar in a can of Coke.
There are 39 grams of sugar in a US can of Coke, which are slightly bigger at 12 oz or around 355 ml.
Sugar laws in the UK
The UK government has several laws surrounding the promotion of sugary foods and drinks.
These laws aim to reduce sugar consumption, and include taxes, advertising restrictions, and regulations on the promotion of unhealthy foods.
The Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), is a levy on soft drinks with more than 5g of sugar per 100ml, and was introduced in 2016 to help tackle child obesity.
This levy has two rates: 18p per litre for drinks with 5–8g of sugar per 100ml, and 24p per litre for drinks with 8g or more per 100ml - and this is set to increase this year.
From April 1, 2025, the new rates will increase from 18 pence per litre to £1.94 per 10 litres (around 19p per litre) for the lower rate of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy.
The higher rate will increase from 24 pence per litre to £2.59 per 10 litres (almost 26p per litre).
This will make sugary drinks more expensive starting in April.
Health risks connected to sugar
The NHS recommends that adults have no more than 30g of free sugars per day, as consuming too much sugar can lead to a range of health problems.
These are some of the ealth risks caused by consuming too much sugar, according to the NHS
weight gain
increased risk of type 2 diabetes
some cancers
tooth decay
potential complications related to obesity
You can decrease your risk of developing these health problems by cutting down on sugary foods and drinks such as Coca-Cola.
Most fizzy drinks offer sugar-free versions, but these have been found to prompt health risks related to sugar alternatives used in their recipes. However, the NHS still recommends sugar-free alternatives over full-sugar fizzy drinks.
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