British Children Consume Double Amount of Recommended Sugar

12 Sep 2016 --- Even though consumption of sugary drinks has fallen in the last six years, children between four and 10 are still consuming more than double the recommended amount of sugar. The latest government statistics show the children drank 100mls of sugary drinks on average in 2012 to 2014, a decrease from 130mls/day in 2008 to 2010.

But sugar still makes up 13 percent of children’s daily calorie intake against the official recommendation of no more than five percent. 

Published by Public Health England (PHE) on September 9, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) also says that teenagers continue to consume three times the official recommendation for sugar (15 percent) and adults more than twice as much (12 percent).

Aside from sugar, the UK population continues to consume too much saturated fat and not enough fruit, vegetables and fiber. The average intake of saturated fat for adults aged 19 to 64 is 12.7 percent of daily calorie intake, that is 11 percent above the recommendation. 

The British Soft Drinks Association says it’s pleased with the overall reduction in sugar but the forthcoming sugar tax as part of the UK government’s Children Obesity announced last month, singles out and “punishes” the soft drinks industry. 

“We are pleased that the latest NDNS data shows a decline of over eight percent in teenagers’ sugar intake from soft drinks between 2012 - 2014. Soft drinks companies have taken significant action to help their consumers reduce their sugar intake since the NDNS data was collected over two years ago. Independent analysis confirms that sugar intake from soft drinks has been reduced by over 16 percent in the last four years,” says BSDA director general, Gavin Partington. 

“However, we understand there is more to do and only last year we set ourselves a 20 percent calorie reduction target by 2020.”

“It seems odd to punish progress with a tax which risks job losses and higher prices for consumers when our efforts are clearly having an impact. Surely a review of this policy must now be undertaken.”

Independent analysis shows the soft drinks tax will lead to more than 4,000 job losses across the UK and a decline of £132 million (US$175 million) in the UK economy. Research indicates that most of these job losses will come in retail and hospitality, including pubs and smaller shops, according to Oxford Economics.

Meanwhile the Food and Drink Federation says the survey offers a timely reminder of the importance of taking a whole-diet approach to improving the UK’s health. 

“We, on average, need to consume a lot more fruit and vegetables, oily fish and fiber and less saturated fat and sugars. Food and drink producers are taking steps to help customers towards dietary goals, lowering calories from sugars and fats in their products, capping portion sizes, and adding key nutrients such as iron and fiber. We need a national push involving all parties with a stake in improving public health to bring about positive change to whole diets,” says a spokesperson. 

“We recognize that although sugar consumption has been declining for years, it’s still too high. These survey results show during the period measured (2013-14), most age groups were relatively close to meeting the recommended daily maximum intake of sugar set at that time (with over-consumption ranging from 0.1 percent to 4.2 percent depending on the age group). The survey shows that sugar consumption by children aged four to 10 dropped during this period.”

“In its 2015 report on carbohydrates & health, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended a much lower daily intake, and food and drink producers are responding by increasing activity to lower sugars in their products. We hope to see the fruits of this labor in the next National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS).”

The Federation added how soft drink companies have been investing in lower calorie options for many years with more than two thirds of soft drinks today with no or low-sugar variants. 

“The NDNS shows that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks has fallen compared to six years ago, quite considerably in children aged four to 10. The most up-to-date data available, show a reduction in the sugar taken home from soft drinks of 13 percent between 2012 and 2016.”

by Gaynor Selby