Health experts call for new guidelines for baby food to reduce sugar intake
A group of leading health experts has called for new guidelines for baby food and drink products to reduce sugar intake in infants.
A letter signed by representatives from several charities and NGOs suggests that babies and young children are consuming too much sugar, largely due to the popularity of shop-bought products, including cereals and fruit-based items.
High sugar intake is linked to an elevated risk of obesity, tooth decay, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. A third of UK children are obese or overweight when they leave primary school and type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure have become more prevalent in children in recent years. Tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions in children aged between six and ten years old.
The group is urging the health secretary, Steve Barclay, to implement new guidelines, known as the Commercial Baby Food and Drink Guidelines, to provide clearer information for consumers and mandatory guidance for manufacturers.
The letter indicates that voluntary guidelines and measures do not have the required impact and states that mandatory policies are needed to enhance nutrition and ensure that consumers know what they’re buying.
The letter has been signed by members of several high-profile charities and bodies, including Action on Sugar, the British Dental Association, the Oral Health Foundation, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, World Cancer Research Fund, the Dental Wellness Trust and Diabetes UK.
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