UK sugar reformulation attempts “floundering”

08 Apr 2022 --- Industry is not motivated enough to reduce sugar content, despite glaring evidence of the consequences, according to Action on Sugar and the Obesity Health Alliance. Their statements come in light of a snapshot product survey, revealing a “huge variation” in portion size and sugar content of popular sweet snacks.

The survey carried out by both groups reveals a doughnut from Greggs contains three times the amount of sugar as one from Sainsbury’s, showing products can be made with far less sugar.

“The huge variation between similar products shows us that lower sugar products are possible and would be commercially acceptable. Without a doubt, certain sectors of the food industry are just not motivated to reduce sugar,” Holly Gabriel, nutrition manager and registered nutritionist at Action on Sugar, tells NutritionInsight.

“Progress to reduce sugar is floundering,” the survey underscores, amid accusations the government is not keen to take the steps toward regulating industry.Many on-the-go single-serve cookies, brownies and doughnuts remain “dangerously” high in sugar.

Reformulation could save lives
Reducing sugar consumption to recommended intakes could save the National Health Service (NHS) £500 million (US$ 652 million) annually, prevent 4,100 premature deaths and avert approximately 200,000 cases of tooth decay, the survey notes. 

Diabetes UK has flagged Britain is at a “tipping point of a public health emergency,” as one in ten people are expected to be living with diabetes by 2030.

“It continues to surprise us that new products are coming onto the market laden with sugar. For instance, one cookie containing 40 g of sugar, when the food industry is fully aware that children and adults over 11 years should have no more than 30 g sugar per day, and even less for younger children,” Gabriel says.

Calls for government to step up
In a bid to rectify the disparity, more robust measures are needed to help fix the voluntary sugar reduction program, Gabriel adds. “The excess of sugar being imported and produced in the UK, sold at low cost, is undoubtedly contributing to this lack of progress.”

One example is the Aldi Specially Selected Triple Chocolate cookie, containing 39 g of sugar per 80 g serving. This contains up to ten teaspoons of sugar, making it 50% sugar. “That’s twice a child’s (aged 4 to 6) daily limit of sugar and the equivalent of eating 12 custard cream biscuits,” the survey reveals.

“This data demonstrates that the food industry can play a vital role in helping people reduce their sugar consumption – but not all companies are prepared to step up and play their part by reformulating their products,” Gabriel says.

“This is where the government needs to provide new regulation that creates a level playing field that financially disincentivizes companies from producing and marketing sugary products. If the government is serious about improving our health, it needs to act now.”The survey says not all companies are prepared to step up and play their part by reformulating their products.

Slamming sugar report delay
Both Action on Sugar and the Obesity Health Alliance were among 40 signatories to a letter to Secretary of State for Health Sajid Javid, sent earlier this week. It called on the government to stop delaying the publication of the final report of the voluntary industry Sugar Reduction Programme. The report is a year overdue and is expected to reveal whether the UK has achieved its goal of reducing sugar content on a range of food items by 20%.

“The government challenged the food industry in 2016 to voluntarily reduce the overall sugar content of food products that contribute the most sugar to children’s intakes by 20% by 2020 and promised that legislation would follow if they did not comply,” Gabriel says.

“The government knows that when this vital piece of evidence reveals the voluntary sugar reduction program has not worked, they will have to follow through with their threat to legislate, and this is a government not keen on regulating multi-national food companies.“

According to Gabriel, the restructure of Public Health England and the creation of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), alongside the pandemic, have created delays in the report’s publication. 

“However, it is our understanding that the report is ready for release, so there is no excuse.”

More action, less talk
Measures such as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), which has seen a 35% reduction in sugar within just four years, demonstrates the power of government to help reduce population sugar intake and lower the risk of associated health implications, Gabriel underscores.

“Our own data proves that robust measures are now urgently needed to incentivize the food industry to reduce sugar, especially as obesity prevalence among primary school children is increasing.”

Recommendations should include regulatory measures such as extending the SDIL to the most sugary food categories or introducing a new duty on sugar paid for by manufacturers, as proposed by Henry Dimbleby in his 2021 National Food Strategy, the campaigners say.

By Andria Kades