Sugar content highest in sodas

A NEW study from the United Kingdom that focused on the country’s fizzy soda drinks has found that most contain alarmingly high levels of sugar, some up to 12 teaspoons per can.

Carried out by researchers from the Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), they looked at the free sugars (sugars g/100ml) content in a variety of carbonated sugarsweetened beverages, including popular brands and supermarket versions.

They found that the sugar content could be as high as 52.8 grams (12 teaspoons) per 330ml can, with on average, ginger beer containing the highest amounts of sugar (38.5g per can) and ginger ale containing the lowest amount of sugar (22.9g per can).

Cola flavour drinks, the most popular flavour in the UK, contained an average of 35g of free sugar per can.

Commenting on the findings, Kawther Hashem, co-author of the study and researcher for Action on Sugar at QMUL, said: “Our study shows that the majority of carbonated sugar-sweetened drinks available in supermarkets exceed the maximum daily recommendation for sugar intake for an adult (30g) and a child (24g).

“It is, therefore, not possible to state that carbonated sugar-sweetened drinks can be consumed as part of a ‘healthy balanced diet’ even though drinks companies claim it can be.”

Soft drinks are the main contributor of free sugars intake in children and teenagers, and the second main contributor in adults.

Hashem added that it would be “very beneficial in reducing obesity, Type 2 diabetes and dental caries”.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend obtaining less than 10% of total energy intake from all free sugars, which is equivalent to 50g or around 12 level teaspoons a day for a person of healthy body weight who eats around 2000 calories per day.

However, ideally less than 5% of total energy intake should come from sugar for health benefits. – AFPRelaxnews