The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no more than 10
The food industry has been under pressure to cut sugar and, alongside goals for salt and saturated fat, the European Union set a target to reduce the region’s sugar consumption by 10
The reduction challenge
Consuming too much added sugar contributes to diet-related illness, but reformulating foods and drinks to contain less of it is not always easy. Apart from adding a sweet taste, sugar is also important for texture and functionality, playing a role in extending shelf life, the browning of baked goods and the creaminess of ice cream, for example.
Based on reports that gradual salt reduction had successfully reduced average salt consumption in several countries, the WHO suggested a similar approach for sugar. In the UK, for instance, systematic action on salt reduced consumption by 15
Soft drink success
When it comes to sugar, soft drinks are the top source of added sugars in many European countries, including the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and in Nordic countries. So it is significant that the soft drinks industry has met and exceeded its sugar reduction goals across Europe. An independent assessment from GlobalData found it achieved a 14.6
Campaigning organisation Action on Sugar also backs compulsory targets – and sugar taxes – to help ensure industry-wide action.
Ambitious policies
In the meantime, the UK has put in place one of the most ambitious public health programmes for sugar reduction in Europe, with a specific 20
Looking ahead for Europe as a whole, the WHO said: “A move towards more ambitious policies may be required in the years to come if we are to achieve the targets agreed upon by governments throughout the European Region.”
