‘Health halo’ organic yogurts have double the amount of sugar
ORGANIC yogurts were among the most sugary on supermarket shelves, research revealed yesterday.
Only one in 10 of all yogurt brands was classed as low in sugar.
Organic varieties were the worst offenders, typically containing 13grams of sugar per 100g.
The average sugar content for natural or Greek yogurts was 5g.
Researchers warned that the “health halo” effect meant consumers often overestimated the health properties of organic products.
Lead study author Dr Bernadette Moore said: “While there is good evidence that yogurt can be beneficial to health, products on the market vary widely in nutrient content.
“Items labelled organic are often thought of as the ‘healthiest’ option, but they may be an unrecognised source of added sugar in many people’s diet.”
Researchers at the University of Leeds and the University of Surrey analysed the nutritional content of 921 yogurts from five major UK supermarkets.
Children’s yogurts were also found to have worryingly high sugar levels, with only two per cent classed as low sugar in the study, which is published in BMJ Open.
They contained an average 10.8g per 100g – the equivalent more than two sugar cubes.
Under the traffic lights nutritional labelling system, only products with less than 5g of sugar per 100g can be given the “green” low sugar rating.
The NHS recommends that children aged four to six should have no more than 19g of sugar per day, while those aged seven to 10 should consume less than 24g daily.
Public Health England has challenged the food industry to reduce of of the sugar content of yogurts and fromage frais – along with other products – by 20 per cent by 2020.
PHE chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said: “The food industry has a key role to play in reducing the amount of sugar we buy and consume.
“Based on more recent data than in this study, we have seen positive steps. Yogurt and fromage frais was the only category to exceed the first year sugar reduction ambition of 5 per cent – we hope to see further progress when we publish our next report in 2019.”
Experts have also called for a number of so-called healthy breakfast options to be classed as junk food.
The hitlist of foods, compiled by the Scientific Advisory Committee On Nutrition, which advises PHE, included Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Bran Flakes and Rice Krispies.