Summer is just around the corner, meaning ice cream trucks across the country will be preparing to dish out countless Flake 99s through the season.
The beloved treat comprises of a simple ice cream cone with soft serve vanilla, topped with a tasty flake chocolate. But if you've ever wondered how much sugar each one contains, you may be disappointed to learn the truth.
While some will prefer to live in blissful ignorance, others should brace themselves for the answer. As reported by the Mirror, one of the ice cream treats is 23 per cent sugar, or 20.8g's worth per cone as per the product's supermarket packaging.
According to NHS guidelines, free sugars should make up no more than five percent of average of a person's daily calories. These sugars include those added to food and drink, as well as ones naturally occurring in honey, fruits, juices and both fresh dried fruit.
Therefore, the average adult is advised to consume just 30g of free sugars a day, or 90 grams of total sugars. This means that one Flake 99 contains two thirds of our free sugar daily allowance.
"Sugars also occur naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and milk, but we do not need to cut down on these types of sugars," the NHS website explains.
"Be aware that these are included along with free sugars in the 'total sugars' figure that you'll see on food labels."
So it is important to consider the types of sugar inside your snack when checking labels. "Okay, I understand the science, but what does this mean for my ice cream?" we hear you ask. Well, that's a question you'll have to answer.
Evaluating the mantra, 'everything in moderation' and how useful it is when it comes to junk food, the pros at Healthline said: "Eating your favourite treats in moderation can help you stick to your diet (especially long term), enjoy holidays and other special events, and avoid unhealthy preoccupations with food.
"Besides, completely abstaining from junk food is not sustainable, enjoyable, or worthwhile for your health."
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