New sugar guidelines

So the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has concluded that free sugars should account for no more than 5% of our daily calorie intake.

This is half the previous 10% recommendation. Current average adult consumption is 12% and teenager consumption is 15%.

Radical action will be needed. Balanced and voluntary, I hope.

There was a key comment from the Chief Nutritionist of Public Health England, part of the UK Government Department of Health. She said:

“We’re asking parents to take a big step to establish a lifetime of healthy eating habits for their children by replacing sugary drinks with sugar free and no added sugar drinks, lower fat milks or water.… Sugary drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet but account for almost a third of their daily sugar intake.”

We must listen and act. We cannot ignore this.