hThere is an evolutionary preference for sweetness in humidity. sweet foods, such as fruit and honey, were an important energy source for our ancestors.
However, in the modern world, sweet foods are easily available, very cheap and widely advertised. Now, we are consuming too much sugar in foods and beverages – sugar that is added instead of naturally occurring sugar. have to consume too much sugar Bad News for health. it is linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay,
Because of these health concerns, manufacturers also began using non-nutritive sweeteners to sweeten food. These sweeteners contain little or no kilojoules and include both artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, and those that come from natural sources, such as stevia.
our research, published today, shows that the amount of added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners in packaged foods and beverages has increased significantly over the past decade. This is especially true in middle-income countries such as China and India, as well as in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia.
From lollies to biscuits to drinks
Using worldwide market sales data, we looked at the amount of added sugar and non-nutritive sweeteners sold in packaged foods and beverages from 2007 to 2019.
We found that per capita nonnutritive sweeteners in beverages are now 36% higher globally. Added sugar is 9% more in packaged food.
Non-nutritive sweets are usually added to confectionery. Ice cream and sweet biscuits are the fastest growing food categories in terms of these sweeteners. The increased use of added sugar and other sweeteners over the past decade has meant, overall, our packaged food supply is getting sweeter.
Our analysis shows that the amount of added sugar used to sweeten drinks has increased globally. However, this is largely explained by the 50% increase in middle-income countries such as China and India. Use has decreased in high-income countries such as Australia and the United States.
it is recommended Men consume less than nine teaspoons of sugar a day, while women should consume less than six. However, because sugar is added to so many foods and beverages, more than half Australians exceed recommendationsEating an average of 14 teaspoons a day.
The most common is the shift to sweetened drinks from the use of added sugar in carbonated soft drinks and bottled water. world health organization is develop guidelines on the use of non-sugar sweeteners,
rich and poor countries
There is a difference in the use of added sugar and sweetener between rich and poor countries. The market for packaged food and beverages in high-income countries has become saturated. To continue growth, large food and beverage corporations are Expansion to middle income countries,
Our findings demonstrate a double standard in sweetening the food supply, with manufacturers providing less sweet, “healthier” products in wealthy countries.
unforeseen consequences of control
To reduce the health damage caused by excessive sugar consumption, many governments have worked to curb their use and consumption. Sugar levies, education campaigns, advertising restrictions and labeling Among these measures are,
But such actions could encourage manufacturers to partially or completely replace sugar with non-nutritive sweeteners to avoid penalties or to meet the preferences of a growing population.
In our study, we found a significant increase in non-nutritive sweeteners sold in drinks in areas with a higher number of policy actions to reduce sugar intake.
Why is this a problem
While the disadvantages of consuming too much sugar are well known, relying on non-nutritive sweeteners as the solution also carries risks. Despite the lack of dietary energy, recently reviewSuggestions that consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners may be associated with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease and can disrupt gut microbiome,
and because they’re sweet, consume non-nutritive sweeteners affects our palate And encourages us to crave more sweet food. This is of particular concern to children, who are still developing their lifelong taste preferences. Additionally, some non-nutritive sweeteners are considered. environmental contaminant and is not effectively removed from the wastewater.
Non-nutritive sweeteners only. are found in highly processed foods, These foods are made industrially, contain ingredients you wouldn’t find in a home kitchen, and are designed to be “hyper-tasty.” Eating more highly-processed foods is associated with more Heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and death,
ultra processed foods are also harmful to the environment Because they use important resources like energy, water, packaging material and plastic waste.
Foods that contain sweeteners can acquire a “health halo” if they do not contain sugar, misleading the public and potentially displacing nutritious, whole foods in the diet.
focus on nutrition
When creating policy to improve public health nutrition, it is important to consider the unintended consequences. Rather than focusing on specific nutrients, there is merit in advocating for a policy that considers broader aspects of food, including cultural significance, level of processing, and environmental impact. Such a policy should promote nutritious, minimally processed foods.
We need to closely monitor the increased sweetness of food and beverages and the increased use of added sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners. It is likely to shape our future taste preferences, food choices, and human and planetary health.
PhD Candidate, Deakin University
Senior Lecturer Population Nutrition, Deakin University
Professor of Public Health Nutrition, Institute of Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University
Research Fellow, Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Deakin University
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Deakin University
This article is republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. read the original article,
Read also: The price of sugar hasn’t gone up much in a decade and it’s not healthy