SACN REPORT

Drinks manufacturers must reduce sugars: PHE

16-Jul-2014 - Last updated on 17-Jul-2014 at 07:50 GMT

Drinks manufacturers must work to reduce the amount of sugars in their products to lower the nation’s calorie intake, according to Dr Alison Tedstone, Public Health England’s (PHE) chief nutritionist.

A third of average adolescents’ calories were coming from soft drinks, said Tedstone at the launch of the long-awaited Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s report today (June 26).

Fizzy drinks provided far too much added sugar to the nation, she told FoodManufacture.co.uk in this exclusive podcast.

There were things fizzy drinks manufacturers could do to reduce added sugar intake, and they should see the report as an opportunity to reformulate their products to contain less sugar.

‘Swap to low-sugar’

“What PHE does is recommend that people swap to low-sugar alternatives,” said Tedstone.

“I think many sugary drink manufacturers will have a portfolio of products that include lower-sugar alternatives.”

There was certainly a role for the food and drink manufacturing sector to reduce sugar, as they successfully did with salt, she added.

Listen to this podcast to hear Tedstone say how PHE and the industry can work together to reduce sugar intake in the UK.

Meanwhile, the Food Manufacture Group will be hosting a free one-hour webinar on obesity on Thursday, July 3 at 1100 GMT.

Book your free place at the webinar here.