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Response from British Sugar MD to UK Scientific Advisory Committee On Nutrition (SACN) draft report on Carbohydrates and Health

26 June 2014

The UK Scientific Advisory Committee On Nutrition (SACN) draft report on Carbohydrates and Health is a comprehensive and thorough review.  

As the report recognises, it is important to remember that obesity is a complex issue.
 
The overwhelming scientific evidence points to the over consumption of total calories across all food groups, rather than a single ingredient, and our increasingly sedentary lifestyles as the primary causes of obesity.
 
The job to be done is to help consumers understand the importance of balancing energy (calories) in and energy (calories) out and to empower people to make their own informed and healthy choices. 
 
Given the importance of total calories we are surprised to see that the Committee has come to a draft recommendation to halve the consumption of free sugars on a population wide level to around 5%.
 
In reality this sets a level that will be very difficult for most people to meet. For example, this would be the equivalent of consuming the sugars found in a small glass of orange juice and a 125 gram yoghurt per day.
 
At this same time the Committee has also made a draft recommendation for individuals that free sugars should be no more than 10% of total calorie intake.  This runs the risk of confusing consumers even further.  
 
Tackling the obesity epidemic requires collaborative action to help consumers better manage and balance their overall calorie intake, diet and lifestyle. We are committed to playing our part.
 
Richard Pike, Managing Director, British Sugar