£1.4bn spent on fruit juice drinks

HEALTH-conscious Britons splashed out £1.4 billion on fruit juice drinks and smoothies last year.

Data from TNS Worldpanel show that sales rose by 7.9 per cent last year as increasing numbers of consumers switched from fizzy drinks to fruit juice brands that are better for them, in response to the message that the drinks count towards the recommended five-a-day healthy eating target.