Published by Public Health England (PHE) on September 9, the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), reveals that children between four and 10 are still consuming more than double the recommended amount of sugar. While teenagers continue to consume three times the official recommendation for sugar (15 percent) and adults more than twice as much (12 percent). Aside from sugar, the UK population continues to consume too much saturated fat and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre.
The Food and Drink Federation says the survey offers a timely reminder of the importance of taking a whole-diet approach to improving the UK’s health.
“We, on average, need to consume a lot more fruit and vegetables, oily fish and fibre and less saturated fat and sugars. Food and drink producers are taking steps to help customers towards dietary goals, lowering calories from sugars and fats in their products, capping portion sizes, and adding key nutrients such as iron and fibre. We need a national push involving all parties with a stake in improving public health to bring about positive change to whole diets,” says a spokesperson.
“We recognize that although sugar consumption has been declining for years, it’s still too high. These survey results show that, during the period measured (2013-14), most age groups were relatively close to meeting the recommended daily maximum intake of sugar set at that time (with over-consumption ranging from 0.1 percent to 4.2 percent depending on the age group). The survey shows that sugar consumption by children aged four to 10 dropped during this period.”
“The NDNS shows that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks has fallen compared to six years ago, quite considerably in children aged four to 10. Kantar data, the most up-to-date data available, show a reduction in the sugar taken home from soft drinks of 13 percent between 2012 and 2016.”
Source: foodingredientsfirst.com
