Action on Sugar is urging UK food manufacturers to commit to the new sugar reduction and reformulation programme announced by Public Health England (PHE) last month.
After the Government’s widely criticized watered down childhood obesity plan was announced in August, Action on Sugar carried out research which showed that some companies put far less sugar in their best-selling products compared to others.
Kawther Hashem, nutritionist and researcher at Action on Sugar, adds: “Our survey clearly shows that companies can easily make products with much less sugar. Currently they are profiting from selling high sugar foods, which put children at risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay. Unhealthy foods are the biggest cause of death and disability in the UK and it is time the food industry took their responsibility for this seriously. They now need to make this a priority and ensure children are not eating 3 times their maximum intake of sugar.”
Although the reformulation programme is voluntary, Action on Sugar says that the research shows that the target of a 20% reduction in sugar can be easily achieved before 2020 and is calling on manufacturers to act now.
“The Reformulation Plan is one of the most effective ways of reducing sugar and, if done properly, the UK will lead the world,” says Graham MacGregor, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Queen Mary University of London and chairman of Action on Sugar. “We therefore urge the Prime Minister, Theresa May, to fully support it and commit the Government to both fat reformulation (as it’s the biggest source of calories than sugar) and to start restrictions of marketing, advertising and promotion of unhealthy foods.”
The charity says that if companies refuse to take part in the new programme, it will call on the public to boycott their products.
