Food industry fails to meet challenge of 5% sugar cut
The food industry has failed to meet a sugar reduction target set by the UK government, a new report has found.
Retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, cafés and pub chains in Wales and England were told to cut 5% of sugar by August 2017.
Public Health England (PHE) found that for retailers’ own-brand and manufacturer-branded products there has been a 2% reduction in total sugar per 100g.
The target was set in a bid to tackle the UK’s childhood obesity crisis, with an aim to cut 20% of sugar from a range of products by 2020.
A third of children are overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, according to official figures.
As part of the programme, businesses were asked to focus on their top-selling products that contribute the most sugar to the diets of children.
PHE said it “recognises there are more sugar reduction plans from the food industry in the pipeline” and that some changes to products took effect after the first-year cut-off point.
Meanwhile, there have been reductions in sugar levels in five out of the eight food categories where progress has been measured, it added.
The assessment also found that yogurts, fromage frais, breakfast cereals, sweet spreads and sauces have all met or exceeded the 5% sugar reduction.
Sugar in drinks has been reduced by 11% and average calories per portion by 6% in response to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), PHE found.
Data also showed people are buying more drinks that have sugar levels below the SDIL cut-off of 5g per 100g.
Steve Brine, Public Health Minister, said the report is encouraging, adding: “However, we do not underestimate the scale of the challenge we face.
“We are monitoring progress closely and have not ruled out taking further action.”
Andy Glyde, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Wales, said companies in Wales and the rest of the UK have not reduced their sugar content quickly enough.
He said: “Despite some impressive attempts, most companies are failing to meet the targets. This is a chance for companies to make it easier for people to eat healthier food so it’s a shame they’re not being braver.
“With more than a quarter of fourand five-year-olds in Wales overweight and obese, it’s very clear bold action is needed. Obesity is a burden on society and the NHS. It also causes 13 types of cancer.
“To further build on sugar reduction, it’s important that Wales puts in place a bold obesity strategy which includes plans to restrict supermarket multi-buy offers on unhealthy food and drink.”
Duncan Selbie, chief executive at Public Health England, said the food industry should be “commended” for the progress so far but that more needs to be done.
“Tackling the obesity crisis needs the whole food industry to step up, in particular those businesses that have as yet taken little or no action,” he added.
PHE has also published new guidelines for the drinks industry to reduce the amount of sugar children consume through juice and milkbased drinks.
By mid-2021, the drinks industry is encouraged to reduce sugar in juice drinks by 5% and in milk drinks by 20%.
It also recommended calorie caps for drinks that are likely to be consumed in one go.