Retailers have been forced to “defend” the decision of a report which urges the sugar allowance made by the “British” to reduce into half. Moreover, the report has been backed by the government, whereby the defenders of such decision, mainly the retailers, are trying their level best –
“...to cut the sugar content and calorie counts of their products.”
Some of you might have guessed it right; the report has been issued by the “Scientific Advisory on Nutrition”. Earlier, S.A.C.N had published a health guidance wherein the consummation level of “free sugar” was recommended to keep within the zone of ten percent of a person’s diet. However, the recent publication that was released on Friday advises that carbohydrate should form only five percent of “total dietary energy”.
Advising on nutrition-related matters to “Public Health England” and various other “government agencies S.A.C.N instructs that adults and children alike should attempt to minimize the intake of “sugar-sweetened beverages”. The report has indicated various soft-drink producers which may need to revise their ratio of ingredients. The list of such producers includes AG Barr, Coca Cola HBC, SAB Miller and Britvic. Additionally, the report cautions supermarkets along with multiple “sweet snacks makers” like Finsbury Foods and Premier Food, besides different sugar producers such as “Tate & Lyle and Associated British Foods”. Apparently, there is also a need of changing food labelling, says the report.
Professor Ian Macdonald, who has been involved with S.A.C.N’s “Carbohydrates and Health working group”, commented that:
“The evidence is stark – too much sugar is harmful to health and we all need to cut back. The clear and consistent link between a high-sugar diet and conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes is the wake-up call we need to rethink our diet. Cut down on sugars, increase fibre and we’ll all have a better chance of living longer, healthier lives.”
However, the retailers in the U.K beg to differ and assert the fact that they have taken various “initiatives to cut the sugar content and calorie counts of their products”; although S.A.C.N too acknowledges the same but still it urges and stresses on the reduction of carbohydrate consumption by keeping “an increasing consumer interest in health and diet issues”. Nevertheless, the soft-drink producers argue that they have been active in cutting down calories from their products, whereby some like Aldi has arrived at “sugar-free” soft drinks.
Furthermore, BRC points out that retailers have been working on promoting vegetables and fruits, besides offering healthy “in-store” eating-advice along with improving “nutritional labelling”. The director of “food and sustainability” branch of BRC, Andrew Opie stated that:
“Retailers have demonstrated both individually and also collectively through government initiatives, a progressive approach to reducing sugar in their products.
“We know there is further to go and we are happy to discuss future reductions in sugar, building on the progress we have made so far. However, we believe that the focus needs to be on those initiatives that will make a difference and, crucially, getting the entire food industry to adopt retailers’ positive approach”.
