Action on sugar

Sugar is everywhere, it seems. Certainly in the news.

Is it more like salt and fat ? Alcohol and tobacco ? Or climate change ?

Common sense requires more action on sugar, as on all these issues, though they are clearly not the same.

The latest guidance is that no more than 10% of the calories in our diet should come from added sugars, instead of the current 12-15%. That feels like a good target.

The World Health Organisation now wants this to be backed up by regulation, including taxation.

I’ve argued against taxation in the past, as it highlights only part of the picture and selective taxes often have unintended wider consequences.

But industry has to act more comprehensively alongside government, education, the media, parents and society at large – and be seen to do so.

Zenith’s annual UK soft drinks industry conference in London on 7th May will be addressing this.

As there’s now a new campaign group called Action on Sugar, we’ve invited its founder Professor Graham MacGregor to speak. I’m delighted he’s accepted. Let’s hear from him directly.