War on sugar ‘is failing’ as consumption falls just 3pc

Laura Donnelly

THE Government’s war on sugar is failing, with consumption reduced by less than 3 per cent since 2015, a damning report has warned.

The National Audit Office (NAO) accused successive governments of not addressing a growing crisis.

Despite pledges to cut sugar consumption by 20 per cent between 2015 and 2020, a review by Public Health England found that intake had dropped by just 2.9 per cent.

The NAO report estimates that there are 1.4million obese children, aged two to 15, in England.

The spending watchdog said obesity is “rising” among pupils in their final year of primary school – those aged 10 and 11 – and increasing “even faster” among those living in deprived areas.

One in five pupils leaving primary school was classed as obese in 2018-19, as well as nearly one in 10 children starting primary school. In deprived areas, this rose to more than a quarter.

Earlier in the summer, the Government announced further measures intended to combat obesity, including a ban on television advertising of junk foods before the 9pm watershed.

Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, said: “The new strategy has signalled a greater intention to tackle obesity but the Government will need to follow through with more urgency if it is to address this risk to people’s health.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We have already taken significant action – cutting sugar from half of drinks on sale, funding exercise programmes in schools and working with councils.”