Action urged as sugar is declared the ‘new tobacco’

Sugar is being described as the “new tobacco” for children and the food industry is being urged to slash the amount of sugar it adds to processed food.

According to experts, 15% of Irish children’s food intake is added sugar foods.

So concerned is the World Health Organisation with rising global obesity levels it is considering a recommendation that added sugar should only make up 5% of a child’s diet. The target currently stands at 11%.

The British Action on Sugar group yesterday revealed that even zero-fat yoghurts can contain five teaspoons of sugar, while a bowl of Heinz tomato soup has four. The WHO recommends the daily maximum be 10. The action group said a portion of Sharwood’s sweet and sour sauce with chicken and rice contains six teaspoons of sugar, a portion of Ragu tomato pasta sauce has three, and a can of Coca-Cola has nine.

In this country, one in ten 5-12-year-olds is overweight and a further one-in-ten is obese. In total, 22% of 5-12-year-olds are overweight or obese. Two out of five Irish adults are overweight and 25% are obese.

According to Safefood’s director of human health and public health doctor, Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, “overconsumption of sugar is an absolutely huge issue”.

She also issued a warning about the “hidden sugar” in savoury, processed foods, and in fruit drinks.

“If you examine the added sugar foods that make up 15% of the Irish child’s diet, these don’t include the more nutritious processed foods like cereals and yoghurts. This figure only refers to foods that have no other kind of nourishment,” she said.

“The onus really is on the food industry to gradually reduce sugar content. They have done it with salt, they can do it with sugar. People need to be aware that if they experience sugar rushes and sugar lows, they are increasing their likelihood of developing diabetes as their sugar levels are yo-yoing,” she said.

Simon Capewell, a professor of clinical epidemiology at the University of Liverpool, claims that “sugar is the new tobacco”.

“Everywhere, sugary drinks and junk foods are now pressed on unsuspecting parents and children by a cynical industry focused on profit, not health,” he said.

The British group Action of Sugar said food firms should be able to reduce the amount of sugar they add to products by 20%-30% within three to five years, taking 100 calories a day out of the typical diet.

Paul Kelly, director of the Food and Drink Industry, said the Irish food sector has been working on initiatives to tackle obesity and diet related diseases.

“Where sugars are included in products, the different sources are clearly labelled in the ingredients list and sugar is listed in the nutrition table,” he said.

“The industry will continue to take action but it will require considerable research and investment as well as consumer acceptance of new recipes that can result in changes in taste, texture, and ingredients.”