Iced coffee warning issued by cancer charity

Some high street coffee shops are selling iced coffee drinks that contain 25 per cent of a woman’s recommended daily calories, according to new research.

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) found one drink which contained 561 calories, over a quarter of the 2,000 calorie intake recommended for women.

Regularly consuming high calorie drinks like these could increase cancer risk, as maintaining a healthy weight is the second most important preventative cancer measure after not smoking, the organisation said.

Dr Rachel Thompson, science programme manager for WCRF, said: “The fact that there is an iced coffee on the market with over a quarter of a woman’s daily calorie allowance is alarming.”

Researchers found a Starbucks Venti Dark Berry Mocha Frappuccino blended coffee with whipped cream has 561 calories.

At Caffe Nero, a Double Chocolate Frappe and a Mocha Frappe Latte with semi-skimmed milk contains 483 calories and at Costa Coffee the Massimo Coffee Frescato contains 332 calories.

In a statement from Costa Coffee, a spokeswoman said the firm takes the nutritional balance of all its food and drink “very seriously”.