A single blueberry muffin contains more than a days’ worth of sugar, new study finds

Blueberry muffins have long been considered a ‘healthy’ alternative to the average icing-laden sweet treat, but this may no longer be the case.

New research by the Obesity Health Alliance analysed 28 different types of blueberry muffins sold in food outlets, train stations and supermarkets and found that 61 per cent of them contains six or more teaspoons of sugar.

According to NHS guidelines, adults should only consume up to seven teaspoons of sugar per day and children aged seven to 10 should have just six per day.

This means that by eating a singular blueberry muffin you could be eating an entire day’s sugar content without realising it.

The muffins brought from train stations were the worst offenders, containing 19 per cent more sugar and were 32 per cent bigger on average.

According to the report, Costa's blueberry muffin contains the highest amount of sugar (40.3 grams), but this has now been reduced to 28.6 grams. The second-highest sugar content was from a McDonald's blueberry muffin – the equivalent of eight teaspoons. Pret A Manger’s also contains eight teaspoons and Caffe Nero’s contains seven.

On the other hand, the blueberry muffin with the least amount of sugar came from M&S and contains the equivalent of three teaspoons – still nearly half your daily recommended allowance of sugar.

In response to the study, the OHA and Action On Sugar are calling for manufacturers to reduce the sugar content in products in line with the government’s proposal to cut it by 20 per cent by 2020.

They have also recommended that all food has proper nutrition labels, including traffic light labelling, so customers can make informed decisions.