Sugar Intake Should Be Cut To 25g Per Day Says WHO, But Not Everyone Agrees

How Much Sugar Should You Eat Per Day?
|
Open Image Modal
YelenaYemchuk via Getty Images
Sugar

If you've got a sweet tooth, you're not going to be a fan of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) new guidelines around sugar.

The United Nations agency previously said sugar should make up 10% of total energy intake per day for adults and children.

But they've now added to that advice, saying a further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25g (6 teaspoons) per day would "provide additional health benefits."

“We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay,” Dr Francesco Branca, Director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development said in a statement.

“Making policy changes to support this will be key if countries are to live up to their commitments to reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.”

The WHO guidelines do not refer to sugars that occur naturally in fruit, vegetables or milk.

Instead, they aim to address "hidden sugars" that appear in processed food and drink. To find out what some of the worst offenders are, check out the slideshow below:

Story continues below slideshow:

Food And Drink With More Sugar In Than You Think
Starbucks caramel frappuccino with whipped cream (with milk)(01 of25)
Open Image Modal
11 teaspoons of sugar (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP/Getty Images)
Mars Refuel milk drink 350 ml(02 of25)
Open Image Modal
11 teaspoonsgreenfleck
Pepsi regular cola 330ml (03 of25)
Open Image Modal
9 teaspoonsfaabaa11
ASDA dark Belgian chocolate pudding 100g serving(04 of25)
Open Image Modal
9 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Tesco sticky toffee sponge pudding 100g serving(05 of25)
Open Image Modal
9 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Mars chocolate bar 51g (06 of25)
Open Image Modal
8 teaspoonsnatalienufer
Fanta Fruit Twist 330ml(07 of25)
Open Image Modal
8 teaspoonsmullski87
Waitrose lemon drizzle pudding 115g serving(08 of25)
Open Image Modal
8 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Red Bull energy drink 250ml(09 of25)
Open Image Modal
7 teaspoonsno_profi_nail
Tesco Juice Bar Super Fruita smoothie 250ml(10 of25)
Open Image Modal
7 teaspoonsTesco
Sainsbury's strawberry and banana smoothie 250ml(11 of25)
Open Image Modal
7 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Heinz treacle sponge pudding 75g serving(12 of25)
Open Image Modal
7 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Muller Crunch Corner strawberry shortcake yoghurt 135g (13 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonschris_smith94
Twix bar 50g(14 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonsdouniiakiss
Innocent Smoothie, mango and passion fruit 200ml serving(15 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonspiaktw
Sharwood's sweet and sour chicken with rice 375g(16 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Cadbury hot drinking chocolate (with semi-skimmed milk) 200ml(17 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonscoffeebuyer
Crunchie bar 40g(18 of25)
Open Image Modal
6 teaspoonstoastsandtea
Tropicana smooth orange juice 200ml serving(19 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonsjr_dread
Sainsbury's 100 per cent pressed apple juice 200ml serving (20 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Capri-Sun orange juice 200ml (21 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonscapri-sun
Sprite sparkling lemon and lime drink 330ml (22 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonsitsmezouu
Snickers bar 48g (23 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonsgushgomes
Don Simon clementine juice 200ml serving(24 of25)
Open Image Modal
5 teaspoonsmySupermarket
Hartleys strawberry jelly, per serving(25 of25)
Open Image Modal

But not everyone agrees with the WHO's updated guidelines.

Tom Sanders, professor emeritus of nutrition and dietetics at King's College London, said that although the 10% target is easily achievable, halving this would be much tougher.

"There is currently no evidence supporting a recommended intake lower than 10% for obesity prevention, either from observational studies or randomised control trials," he said.

"In the UK average intakes of free sugars are about 11-12% of the energy in adults but higher in teenagers where they are closer to 18% of the energy.

"The target of 10% can easily met be avoiding sugar sweetened beverages and getting fluid intakes preferably from water or sugar-free beverages."

He added that the recommendation of lowering it to 5% is "much harder to meet because it would involve not eating cakes, biscuits, confectionery and all sugar sweetened beverages including fruit juice".

Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England (PHE), has welcomed the updated guidelines, however.

"As a nation our diet contains too much sugar, especially for children and teenagers who are consuming 50% more sugar than the maximum recommended amount," she said.

"Too many sugary foods and drinks not only cause tooth decay but also mean excess calories which lead to being overweight or obese, increasing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers."