Public Health England, Sugar Reduction and wider reformulation programme: Report on progress towards the first 5% reduction and next steps.
Today, Public Health England (PHE) published the first year progress report of the sugar reduction programme which challenged the food industry to achieve a 20% reduction by 2020, in the nine food categories that contribute the most sugar in the diets of children. They have three levers in which to achieve this: reformulation, reducing portion sizes or shifting sales to healthier choices through promotions.
As part of the programme, the industry were further challenged to achieve a 5% reduction in year one. The report outlines progress towards the first 5% reduction and next steps. The report also includes changes in sugar levels of soft drinks which have been covered by the soft drinks industry levy (SDIL) in the same time period.
Key points:
- Progress has been measured against a 2015 baseline.
- An overall reduction of 2% in both calories and sugar content of foods consumed on a single occasion has been made against the 5% target across categories.
- Good progress has been made in yogurts (6%), breakfast cereals (5%) and sweet spreads and sauces (5%) achieving the 5% reduction target.
- Two categories (biscuits and chocolate confectionary) have made no progress and one (puddings) has increased sugar content
- Average calorie content of foods consumed on a single occasion out of home are usually double those bought in a supermarket.
- Sugar has been reduced by 11% in drinks included in the SDIL.
- Data limitations has resulted in no report on the progress of cakes and morning goods or in the eating out of home sector.
- PHE recognise that some changes in products have not been captured in this report as they took place after the first year cut off point.
- PHE also published today new guidelines for manufacturers to reduce the amount of sugar in juice and milk based drinks by mid-2021.
The next progress report is due in spring 2019.
Kawther Hashem – Nutritionist at Action on Sugar:
"Whilst we welcome PHE’s first assessment of progress on the government’s sugar reduction programme, it’s evident that much more must be done – particularly on biscuits, chocolate confectionery, puddings and the large portions of high sugar products sold in the out of home sector. It’s unfair and ridiculous that these products are not being reformulated to the same extent. Much stricter measures need to be in place to ensure progress is being made by the food industry and that the 20% sugar reduction target is met."
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As part of this, Action on Sugar is launching its seven point evidence based plan with a call for the Prime Minister Theresa May to introduce an energy density levy on confectionery, make nutritional labelling on menus & packaging mandatory and ban marketing of HFSS products. These are all crucial recommendations to be included in Chapter Two of her long-awaited obesity strategy.
