SGS Provides Updates on World Health Organization's Draft Guidelines on Free Sugars Intake
On 05 March 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) published their draft guidelines on free sugars intake. Free sugars include mono and disaccharides added to food and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit concentrates. Recommendations were provided on the consumption of free sugars to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases in adults and children. They requested public comment until 31 March 2014.
Fairfield, NJ, June 07, 2014 --(PR.com)-- World Health Organization Draft Guideline on Sugars and Free Sugar Intake (1)
WHO had three main recommendations;
1. Reduce intake of free sugars throughout lifetime
2. Intake of free sugars not to exceed 10% of total energy/calories
3. Further reduction of free sugars below 5% of total energy/calories is recommended (about 25g (about 6 teaspoons) of sugar per day for an adult)
Free Sugars and Non-Communicable Diseases
The primary non-communicable diseases associated with excess sugar intake are dental caries and obesity related diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. The average US adult eats about 135 pounds of sugar a year or 22 teaspoons a day, getting about 15% of their daily calories from sugar (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diet.htm).
Studies (http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.e7492) have been performed that when people reduce their intake of free sugars even without reducing the amount of food, they will lose overall body weight while increase in sugars resulted in an increase of body weight even without increasing the amount of food in the diet. This indicates that an increase in body weight is possibly associated with free sugars intake.
In other studies on dental caries and free sugars (http://jdr.sagepub.com/content/93/1/8), 42 out of 50 studies reviewed reported an association with free sugars and the development of dental caries.
International Dietary Guidelines
These guidelines are really not different than the guidelines published in various countries. For example the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend to limit the intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol. The Dietary Guidelines (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/n55) for Americans (http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2010.asp) recommend reducing calories from solid fats and added sugars. Similar recommends can be found in the United Kingdom (http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/sugars.aspx).
Reference:
1 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/consultation-sugar-guideline/en
About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS is committed to keeping readers informed of regulatory news and developments. Leveraging a global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of food safety and quality solutions including analytical testing, audits (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Processors-and-Suppliers/Audits.aspx), certifications, inspections and technical support. SGS continually invests in world class testing capabilities and state-of-the-art technology to help customers reduce risks, and improve food safety and quality.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts.
Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist
291 Fairfield Ave, Fairfield
New Jersey 07004, USA
t +1 973 461 1493
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.foodsafety.sgs.com
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
WHO had three main recommendations;
1. Reduce intake of free sugars throughout lifetime
2. Intake of free sugars not to exceed 10% of total energy/calories
3. Further reduction of free sugars below 5% of total energy/calories is recommended (about 25g (about 6 teaspoons) of sugar per day for an adult)
Free Sugars and Non-Communicable Diseases
The primary non-communicable diseases associated with excess sugar intake are dental caries and obesity related diseases such as diabetes or heart disease. The average US adult eats about 135 pounds of sugar a year or 22 teaspoons a day, getting about 15% of their daily calories from sugar (http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/diet.htm).
Studies (http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.e7492) have been performed that when people reduce their intake of free sugars even without reducing the amount of food, they will lose overall body weight while increase in sugars resulted in an increase of body weight even without increasing the amount of food in the diet. This indicates that an increase in body weight is possibly associated with free sugars intake.
In other studies on dental caries and free sugars (http://jdr.sagepub.com/content/93/1/8), 42 out of 50 studies reviewed reported an association with free sugars and the development of dental caries.
International Dietary Guidelines
These guidelines are really not different than the guidelines published in various countries. For example the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend to limit the intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol. The Dietary Guidelines (https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/guidelines/publications/n55) for Americans (http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2010.asp) recommend reducing calories from solid fats and added sugars. Similar recommends can be found in the United Kingdom (http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/sugars.aspx).
Reference:
1 http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/consultation-sugar-guideline/en
About SGS Food Safety Services
SGS is committed to keeping readers informed of regulatory news and developments. Leveraging a global network of laboratories and food experts, SGS provides a comprehensive range of food safety and quality solutions including analytical testing, audits (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Processors-and-Suppliers/Audits.aspx), certifications, inspections and technical support. SGS continually invests in world class testing capabilities and state-of-the-art technology to help customers reduce risks, and improve food safety and quality.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact the SGS experts.
Contact details:
SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
Food Safety Technologist
291 Fairfield Ave, Fairfield
New Jersey 07004, USA
t +1 973 461 1493
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.foodsafety.sgs.com
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
Contact
SGS Consumer Testing Services
James Cook
+1 973 461 1493
www.foodsafety.sgs.com
SGS – North America
291 Fairfield Avenue,
Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA
James Cook
+1 973 461 1493
www.foodsafety.sgs.com
SGS – North America
291 Fairfield Avenue,
Fairfield, NJ 07004, USA
Contact
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