Progress report on sugar reduction in the UK between 2015 and 2018
Public Health England (PHE) released a progress report on the voluntary sugar reduction programme. This programme aims to reduce sugar by 20% by 2020 in food products that are most frequently consumed in children up to the age of 18.
Public Health England (PHE) released a progress report on the voluntary sugar reduction programme. This programme aims to reduce sugar by 20% by 2020 in food products that are most frequently consumed in children up to the age of 18. This report focuses on manufacturer-branded and retail own-brand products purchased, while also including food purchased outside of the home, e.g. in restaurants and cafes.
Key findings include:
- An overall 2.9% reduction in average sugar content among retail and manufacturer-branded products per 100g.
- Breakfast cereals along with yoghurts and fromage frais have had the largest reduction (8.5% and 10.3% respectively).
- The average sugar content of drinks has decreased by 28.8%.
The decrease of sugar in products such as breakfast cereals and sugary drinks shows that reformulation of products to a healthier standard is possible.
