Our latest blogs for Sugar Awareness Week cover why we need to reduce sugar, the environmental effects, the importance of labelling because of misleading claims and how snacks contribute to our daily sugar intake. Thanks to Which?, Obesity Health Alliance and Independent Nurse.

Are we facing a snackpocolypse?

With the ‘nutrition transition’ – the shift towards high fat, sugar and salt foods (often with little nutritional value) due to globalization – has come not only an increase in nutrition related non-communicable disease, but a global environmental crisis.

The EAT-Lancet refers to the relationship between human and planetary health as being symbiotic, so looking after our health and our planet must come hand in hand. We know that excess sugar consumption is linked to a higher incidence type two diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and dental caries... read more here

To reformulate, or not to reformulate; that is the question

Whether ‘tis nobler to make small improvements to the foods people already buy and eat. Or to take arms against processed foods, and by opposing, end them?*

During Shakespeare’s time, sugar was still an expensive commodity and reserved for special occasions, not so in 2021.  This year, during Sugar Awareness Week, 8– 14 November 2021, Action on Sugar is raising awareness of the health impacts of consuming excess sugar (and calories) every day from snacking.  The aim of the week is to get people talking about the importance of reducing sugar, and to encourage food and drink companies and the government to act, so we can all have access to healthier snacks... read more here

Time to Take Action on Sugar During Sugar Awareness Week

This year during Sugar Awareness Week (8-14 November) we will be raising awareness of the health impacts of consuming excess sugar (and calories).

Excess sugar intake is linked to tooth decay and increases the risk of weight gain which can mean a higher likelihood of living with overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. We, as a population from young children to older people, are exceeding our daily maximum sugar intakes by double or even three times what we should be eating. The aim of the Sugar Awareness Week is to get people talking about the importance of reducing sugar... read more here

‘Mind the Baby Gap’ 

Today, as part of Sugar Awareness Week 2021, our NEW survey has exposed the alarming amounts of sugars found in many baby & toddler sweet snacks such as biscuits, rusks, oat bars and puffs. This research brings to light yet another ‘Baby Gap’ in policies that are supposed to protect our children’s health. These types of foods are repeatedly missed from important policies such as sugar reduction and front of pack labelling.

Some of the products in our survey, popular with parents for a quick ‘nutritious’ snack for their child, contained a massive two teaspoons of free sugars per serve!... read more here 

Snacking on Sugars 

We know that the baby and toddler snacking market has been booming in recent years, despite the overall decline of baby foods in the market. We also know from unpublished sales data that little ones are both having more snacks, and snacking more often.

So is this of concern? Yes, for starters, babies are not supposed to be snacking the guidance is they should be having milk that is supplemented with mini-meals, not commercially produced snacks. Latest data indicate that in the first year of life, babies and toddlers are consuming higher than recommended amounts of free sugars and so there is a need to re-emphasise the risks associated with free sugars... read more here