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Some of the nation's most popular hot drinks are fuelling an obesity crisis, health officials say iStock

Hot drinks containing "shocking" levels of sugar are being sold by popular high-street chains, according to a campaign group as Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero are accused of stoking a national obesity crisis by selling sugar-laden beverages.

Research by Action on Sugar found a third of the nation's favourite hot flavoured beverages contain the same or more sugar than a can of Coca-Cola, with some having a staggering 25 teaspoons of sugar – three times the recommended daily intake.

The worst offender was a large, or 'Venti', version of Starbucks' Hot Mulled Fruit Drink, which comes in either grape with chai or orange and cinnamon flavour. The drink contains 99g of sugar, the equivalent of eating five muffins.

Costa's largest Chai Latte contained the next highest level, at almost 80g, while drinks from KFC and Caffè Nero also featured in the list of top 20 worst offenders. The organisation's research said 98% of the 131 hot flavoured drinks found in the high-street chains would carry the Food Standards Agency "red" warning label for excessive levels of sugar.

Here is the full list of the worst offenders, according to the research carried out by Action on Sugar (the recommended daily intake of sugar for adults and teenagers is 30g/seven teaspoons):

StoreDrinkSugar (g)Sugar (teaspoons)
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Grape with Chai, Orange and Cinnamon Venti9925
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Apple with Chai, Dried Apple and Cinnamon Venti8822
Costa CoffeeChai Latte Massimo - Eat In79.720
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Grape with Chai, Orange and Cinnamon Grande7619
StarbucksWhite Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream Venti73.818
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Apple with Chai, Dried Apple and Cinnamon Grande6917
StarbucksSignature Hot Chocolate Venti6015
StarbucksWhite Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream Grande59.115
KFCMocha58.815
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Massimo - Eat Out57.514
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Massimo - Eat In56.314
KFCHot Chocolate with cream54.314
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Massimo - Eat Out5414
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Massimo - Eat In53.113
Costa CoffeeMocha Massimo - Eat Out52.613
StarbucksChai Tea Latte Venti5213
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Grape with Chai, Orange and Cinnamon Tall5213
Costa CoffeeMocha Massimo - Eat In51.713
Caffe NeroCaramelatte - Drink In50.613
Costa CoffeeChai Latte Medio - Eat In49.312
StarbucksSignature Hot Chocolate Grande47.412
StarbucksHot Mulled Fruit - Apple with Chai, Dried Apple and Cinnamon Tall4712
EatMatcha Latte Big45.211
KFCMocha45.111
GreggsMocha Large4511
StarbucksWhite Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream Tall44.411
StarbucksMocha with Whipped Cream Venti43.211
McDonaldsMocha Large4311
EatChai Latte Big42.811
Pret a MangerOrange Spiced Hot Chocolate42.211
StarbucksCaramel Macchiatto Venti42.111
KFCHot Chocolate with cream4211
StarbucksClassic Hot Chocolate Venti41.810
StarbucksChai Tea Latte Grande41.510
Caffe NeroHot Chocolate with Whipped Cream - Drink In4110
StarbucksPumpkin Spice Latte with Whip Venti39.210
McDonaldsMocha Medium3810
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Medio - Eat In37.79
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Medio - Eat Out37.79
StarbucksSignature Hot Chocolate Tall36.49
McDonaldsHot Chocolate Large369
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Massimo - Eat Out369
Caffe NeroHot Chocolate Milano with Whipped Cream Drink in35.79
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Massimo -Eat Out35.49
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Massimo -Eat Out35.39
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Massimo -Eat Out359
EatMatcha Latte Small34.99
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Massimo - Eat In34.99
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Medio - Eat In34.89
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Massimo -Eat In34.89
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Medio - Eat Out34.89
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Primo - Eat Out34.89
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Massimo -Eat Out34.69
Costa CoffeeMocha Medio - Eat In34.49
Costa CoffeeMocha Medio - Eat Out34.49
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Massimo -Eat In34.29
GreggsMocha Regular349
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Massimo -Eat In33.98
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Massimo -Eat In33.58
Caffe NeroChai Latte - Drink In33.28
KFCCaramel Latte - Large33.28
EatChai Latte Small338
GreggsHot Chocolate Large338
StarbucksMocha with Whipped Cream Grande32.98
StarbucksClassic Hot Chocolate Grande32.98
EatHot Chocolate Big328
McDonaldsToffee Latte Large328
Costa CoffeeChai Latte Primo - Eat In31.98
StarbucksChai Tea Latte Tall31.38
StarbucksCaramel Macchiatto Grande318
StarbucksPumpkin Spice Latte with Whip Grande30.68
Pret a MangerHot Chocolate30.38
StarbucksWhite Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream Short29.97
EatMocha Big29.27
McDonaldsVanilla Latte Large287
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Primo - Eat Out27.57
Caffe NeroLuxury Hot Chocolate - Drink In27.37
McDonaldsHot Chocolate277
KFCCaramel Latte26.87
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Medio -Eat In26.67
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Medio -Eat Out26.67
StarbucksMocha with Whipped Cream Tall26.37
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Medio -Eat In26.17
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Medio -Eat Out26.17
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Medio -Eat In26.17
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Medio -Eat Out26.17
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Medio -Eat In25.96
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Medio -Eat Out25.96
StarbucksClassic Hot Chocolate Tall25.86
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Medio -Eat In25.66
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Medio -Eat Out25.66
StarbucksCaramel Macchiatto Tall25.56
KFCVanilla Latte25.46
Costa CoffeeMocha Latte Primo - Eat In25.26
McDonaldsToffee Latte Medium256
GreggsHot Chocolate Regular256
EatHot Chocolate Small24.66
Caffe NeroWhite Chocolate Mocha - Drink In24.56
Costa CoffeeMocha Primo - Eat Out24.46
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Primo - Eat Out24.36
Caffe NeroMocha with Whipped Cream - Drink In24.36
StarbucksPumpkin Spice Latte with Whip Tall24.16
StarbucksSignature Hot Chocolate Short23.96
Costa CoffeeMocha Primo - Eat In236
Costa CoffeeHot Chocolate Primo - Eat In22.66
EatMocha Small22.16
LeonMocha226
Pret a MangerLove Bar Latte21.85
Pret a MangerOrange Spiced Latte21.45
McDonaldsVanilla Latte Medium215
StarbucksChai Tea Latte short20.95
Pret a MangerMocha20.75
KFCVanilla Latte195
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Primo -Eat Out18.55
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Primo -Eat Out18.25
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Primo -Eat Out18.25
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Primo -Eat Out185
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Primo -Eat Out17.84
Costa CoffeeGingerbread Latte Primo -Eat In17.44
LeonHot Chocolate174
Costa CoffeeCinnamon Latte Primo -Eat In174
Costa CoffeeVanilla Latte Primo -Eat In174
Costa CoffeeRoasted Hazelnut Latte Primo -Eat In16.94
StarbucksMocha with Whipped Cream Short16.84
StarbucksClassic Hot Chocolate Short16.84
Costa CoffeeCaramel Latte Primo -Eat In16.74
StarbucksPumpkin Spice Latte with Whip Short15.64
StarbucksCaramel Macchiatto Short14.74
Costa CoffeeChocolate Babycinno12.93
Costa CoffeeMocha Cortado - Eat Out12.13
Costa CoffeeMocha Cortado - Eat In10.43