Manufacturers under fire over ‘too much sugar’ in children’s food

Much of children’s daily sugar intake is hidden in packaged and ultra-processed food, many of which are marketed as “healthy”, researchers have said, citing a new study which reveals that British toddlers and children consume “too much sugar”.

The researchers have questioned the claims of the food makers making claims like “no added sugar” when the product contains high levels of naturally occurring free sugar.

According to a new study presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity held in Netherland, children in the UK start consuming free sugars at a very young age while many toddler’s sugar intake exceeds the maximum amount for children four and older.

“It is misleading and unhelpful for products to make claims such as “no added sugar” when the products contain high levels of naturally occurring free sugar because it has been processed.

The study, conducted as a part of SWEET, a European Commission Horizon 2020 funded programme, also claimed that more than a third of under 21-months old and 80 percent of 7-year-olds exceeded the recommended limit of 10 percent of daily calories from free sugars.

The researchers also called on the government to do more and asked food manufacturers to reduce the free sugar content in foods and beverages and to reformulate products that are a significant source of added sugar in children’s diet such as yoghurts, juices, cakes and confectionery.

Researchers also cited data from Gemini study, which has been following 2,400 British families with twins born in 2007, to state that the average UK toddler consumes more than six teaspoons of free sugar per day.