Public Health England Sugar reduction programme: progress between 2015 and 2018
Public Health England (PHE) has published its second-year report on progress made by the food industry against voluntarily targets to reduce sugar in everyday foods that contribute most to children’s sugar intake by 20% by 2020. Businesses have 3 options to meet the 20% ambition - reduce sugar levels (reformulation), produce smaller portions, or encourage consumers to purchase lower or no sugar products.
- for retailers and manufacturers, there is an overall 2.9% reduction (sales weighted average sugar per 100g) since 2015
- for the out of home sector, based on more limited data, there is a 4.9% reduction (simple average sugar per 100g)
- Retailer own brand and manufacturer branded yogurts and fromage frais, and breakfast cereals have reduced sugar by 10.3% and 8.5% respectively.
- PHE looked at simple average sugar levels for the out of home sector which suggests that progress has been made; however direct comparisons should not be made due to the data available.
The report also looked at progress made under the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL):
- 28.8% sugar reduction per 100ml in retailer own brand and manufacturer branded products and a 27.2% reduction per 100ml for drinks consumed out of home
- more people are shifting to zero or lower sugar products, with sugar purchased from soft drinks decreasing in all socio-economic groups
- 30,133 tonnes of sugar were removed without reducing soft drink sales
Katharine Jenner, Campaign Director of Action on Sugar says:
“Whilst it’s encouraging to learn that both sugary yoghurts and cereals have been successful in the sugar reduction programme proving that reformulation is easily achievable, it is shameful that other manufacturers are dragging their heels and will likely fail to meet the 20% target. Every year more and more children are becoming obese”.
“However, the government should be proud that they were brave enough to introduce the soft drinks levy which has been remarkable in that it allowed for significant sugar reduction in drinks. Manufacturers were then able to avoid paying the tax– resulting in a much bigger reduction of sugar content in drinks in the UK than originally anticipated”.
“This demonstrates that when properly motivated, the food industry can give us healthier options. It is imperative that this momentum and levy continues and is applied to calorie dense processed foods and milk-based drinks that meet an agreed criterion set by government. Fat is a bigger contributor to calories in the diet than sugar and therefore essential that manufacturers are encouraged to reduce both in order to tackle the UK’s unhealthy eating habits and the excessive calorie intake.”
Caroline Cerny, Obesity Health Alliance Lead says:
“This report provides clear evidence that the soft drinks industry levy is a success story for child health. Compared to the voluntary sugar reduction programme, the use of a financial levy has proved a highly effective incentive to get the drinks industry to reduce sugar in their products.
“The mixed and disappointing lack of progress in the voluntary sugar reduction programme shows that while some companies are taking a responsible approach and reducing sugar from everyday products, far too many are simply not doing enough. If the food industry continues to fail to work towards Government reformulation targets then regulatory measures such as a levy, should be used to incentivise them. Child health simply can’t wait for the food industry to get its act together and we won’t meet the target of halving child obesity by 2030 at this snail’s pace of change.
“It’s particularly worrying that despite an overall small reduction in sugar content of products, the amount of sugar sold has increased. This is a clear sign that reduction programmes alone are not enough and the Government now needs to swiftly and fully implement its promises to stem the tide of unhealthy food marketing to children with restrictions on promotions and a 9pm watershed on junk food adverts.”
Gavin Partington, BSDA Director-General said:
“The soft drinks industry has long led the way in calorie and sugar reduction. Between Spring 2012 and Spring 2016, prior to the announcement of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, UK soft drinks manufacturers cut sugar from their products by 15.6%, according to Kantar Worldpanel data.
“Nevertheless we recognise that the levy did lead to parts of the sector moving further and faster on sugar reduction. However, Government is yet to present evidence that the sugar reduction in our category has had any impact on levels of obesity.”
Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said:
"Today’s findings are a mixed bag. The soft drinks levy is a success story and shows that government can make a significant difference when it compels the food industry to act in the interests of child health.
On the other hand - the results of the voluntary sugar reduction programme reveal the limits of self-regulation. While there are pockets of progress, industry is largely asleep at the wheel. It is time for a wake-up call. One in three children are overweight or obese by age 11 and the food industry has a major role to play in helping us turn this around.
If industry fails to act for child health, then we look forward to the introduction of mandatory sugar reduction targets in 2020".
Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, said:
“We are seeing some encouraging progress from the food industry. Our second year report shows some food categories reducing sugar faster than others but this is realistic at this early stage”.
“We are confident that the industry as a whole understands their responsibility to step up and deliver for children and their families”.
