It looks as though 2017 may be the Year of Sugar. In 2016, Sustain campaigned successfully for a levy on sugary drinks, with the Government committing to introduce a graduated tax by 2018.
Now Public Health England has published research showing that children are consuming almost three cubes of sugar -- half the recommended daily allowance -- at breakfast time. As part of its Change4Life healthy eating campaign, PHE has developed a free Be Food Smart App that scans product barcodes to help consumers choose options lower in sugar, salt and saturated fat. Find out more here.
Meanwhile, an academic study (here) suggests that there is little evidence to support the argument that artificial sweeteners can help with weight loss, and also little research on other possible health impacts. Given that the food and drink industry has raced to replace sugars with sweeteners to avoid the tax, billing them as a 'healthy' alternative, it is not surprising that this research was roundly condemned (here) as 'extremely unhelpful'.
Meanwhile, in a new book, The case against sugar, excerpted here in The Guardian, Gary Taubes argues that since sugar is both addictive and harmful to health, there is no basis for assuming that any level of consumption is safe.
Read more here on Sustain's campaigning work on the sugar tax and children's diets.
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
