FSA: Children in Scotland are Still Eating Too Much Sugar

According to the research, carried out by the University of Aberdeen, Scotcen and the University of Hertfordshire, children's intake of saturated fats and added sugars continues to be considerably higher than the Scottish Dietary Goals.

8 Oct 2012 --- Only slow progress is being made in improving children's diets in Scotland, according to a dietary survey undertaken on behalf of the Food Standards Agency in Scotland.

According to the research, carried out by the University of Aberdeen, Scotcen and the University of Hertfordshire, children's intake of saturated fats and added sugars continues to be considerably higher than the Scottish Dietary Goals.

The diets of 1,500 children aged 3-16 years living in Scotland were monitored as part of the research, with fieldwork undertaken during June to November 2010. Children's school-day purchasing habits were also examined. The survey follows a 2006 study into sugar intake among children.

Key survey findings:
•    the 2010 results show that children are still consuming too much sugar (15.6% of their food energy) compared to the dietary goal (<11% of food energy) although the amount has decreased compared to the previous survey (17.4% of food energy) carried out in 2006
•    sugars from soft drinks, confectionary, biscuits, cakes and pastries, yoghurt and fromage frais and fruit juice were the major sources
•    children living in more deprived areas had higher intakes of the above types of sugars
•    mean saturated fat intakes were 13.2% of food energy, which is above the recommended level of 11%
•    levels of fat and saturated fat were similar to those found in the 2006 survey
•    the main contributors to saturated fat intake were milk, cream, biscuits, cakes and pastries. There was no difference in fat or saturated fat intakes by socio-economic status

The survey also found that:
•    29% of children were classed as overweight or obese, which was similar to levels reported in the 2010 Scottish Health Survey
•    the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased with deprivation, from 25% in the least deprived to 38% in the most deprived
•    16% of primary and 42% of secondary school children reported that they sometimes bought food or drinks on the way to or from school
•    63% of all secondary school children bought food or drinks outside of school at lunchtime
•    the most commonly purchased items were confectionery, sugar-sweetened drinks, crisps and water

The Food Standards Agency in Scotland will continue to work with the Scottish Government and the food industry to improve Scotland's diet. Ongoing monitoring will establish whether these trends continue beyond 2014.

FSA in Scotland Acting Director Elspeth MacDonald said: “This is the second time a survey of this type has been commissioned and shows disappointingly that children in Scotland are still eating too much sugar and saturated fat.”

“This report highlights the need for the FSA in Scotland to continue to work in partnership across the food industry and with the Scottish Government, to promote a healthy balanced diet and give children the support and information they need to make better dietary choices.”

Public Health Minister Michael Matheson said, “While it is disappointing to note that children in Scotland are still eating too much sugar and saturated fat, we are actively working on policies with the FSA in Scotland to encourage youngsters to make healthier choices. We are also challenging the food industry to make more targeted progress on reformulation particularly of those food categories identified in the survey as contributing most to the sugar and saturated fat intakes in children’s diets.”