Food for Health Alliance strongly supports recommendations in the Diabetes Inquiry’s report that the Australian Government makes it easier for the public to know what added sugars are in products by:
There is a growing scientific and community concern around the impact of sugar on health, and in particular the impact of excess consumption of ‘free sugars.’
Free sugars are all sugars that are not found in whole fruits, vegetables or dairy products. This includes sugar from sugar cane, honey and syrups as well as concentrated fruit sugars like pastes, concentrates and juices that are often used in foods for young children.
Consuming too many free sugars is associated with poor diets, obesity and risk of chronic diseases like cancer.
The World Health Organization recommends that intakes of free sugars make up equal or less than 10% of total energy intake.
72% of Australian school age children exceed this.
Currently, ‘added sugar’ is defined very narrowly and doesn’t include all free sugars.
For labelling about sugars to be effective, there needs to be a legislated definition of added sugar that includes all free sugars.
For more information about what ingredients should be included in a fit for purpose 'added sugar' definition, see this report prepared by The George Institute for Global Health.
Read the report
Food for Health Alliance acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live and work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.