Concerns about hidden sugar content in everyday foods
Dentists are concerned about the amount of sugar people are consuming; figures show that sugar consumption in the UK has increased by more than a third since the 1980’s and hidden sugar content may be the cause of the problem.
Research shows that people add less sugar to their foods; for example, people put less sugar in their tea and on their cereal in the mornings, but overall sugar consumption has increased and this could be due to the everyday foods they eat. Journalist Eleanor Bradford started to realise the extent of the problem when she gave up refined sugar for Lent; as she started to analyse the ingredients of everything she ate, she quickly became aware of the hidden sugar content is almost every food, including bread, pesto and mayonnaise.
Dentist Kieran Fallon said that sugar is present in almost every food we eat, including savoury family favourites, such as tomato soup. Mr Fallon, a member of the British Dental Association, is concerned about the effect of sugar consumption; at the moment, with sugar content so high in so many foods, the teeth are being subjected to acid attacks throughout the day, which is very damaging. Dentists recommend avoiding sugary and acidic foods at mealtimes only and drinking water and eating healthy snacks, including cheese, raw vegetables and fresh fruit between meals.
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