Sugar intake must be slashed further, say scientists !

The target to reduce sugar consumption should be much more ambitious, health experts say.

Both the World Health Organization and government advisers in England have recently proposed a cut in their recommendations for sugar consumption.

The new advice is that it should account for 5% of energy intake - down from 10%.

But a study published in the BMC Public Health journal suggested the target should be no more than 3%.

Report co-author Prof Philip James, a nutrition expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and past president of the World Obesity Federation, said tough action was needed.

Sugar tax

He called for vending machines offering confectionery and sugary drinks in areas controlled by government, such as schools and hospitals, to be removed.

He also said foods that take consumption above 2.5% should be labelled as high and a sugar tax introduced to curtail consumption.

Prof James said there was no "magic silver bullet", but added that action was needed as sugar consumption was a huge public health issue.

Full story here.

Eddie