03 May Food Labelling – Check out the Sugar content!!!
It’s hiding in our food!!
A new report has warned, sweet-toothed children in Ireland are consuming two-and-a-half times more sugar every day than they should!
Ireland is among several European countries where youngsters are eating or drinking more than the recommended maximum intake of “free” sugars.
They are added to food or drinks and include those found in biscuits, chocolate, flavoured yogurts, breakfast cereals and fizzy drinks.
They also include sugars in honey and syrups; unsweetened fruit juices, vegetable juices and smoothies.
Sugar found naturally in milk, whole fruit and whole vegetables does not count.
The figures were presented by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
Foods containing free sugar often have very little or no nutritional benefit and can contribute to weight gain and tooth decay.
At least one-in-five children is overweight or obese.
The report highlights how excess sugar intake is related to an increased risk of dental cavities, cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and, perhaps most worryingly, is associated with a significantly higher risk of obesity.