Action on Sugar calls for government crackdown on sugary weaning food following “shocking” survey results

10 Nov 2021 --- UK charity Action on Sugar is calling on the government to enforce labeling restrictions for baby and toddler snacks after discovering “shocking” sugar levels during a survey of 73 products featuring health claims on their packs.  

The survey showed over a third (37%) of products would have a red (high) label for sugars if they were subject to the UK’s traffic light system, which currently contains a legislative gap for baby and toddler snacks. 

Speaking to NutritionInsight, Holly Gabriel, a registered nutritionist at Action on Sugar, says a lack of government action is to blame for so many unhealthy products remaining on the market under the guise of health claims.

“A lack of mandatory labeling legislation such as color-coded traffic light labeling has meant an inconsistent array of labeling. There has also been a slow response to emerging issues such as the use of health claims on products high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) and misleading statements.”

“Government has been slow to act on making necessary changes. In 2019, both the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe and Public Health England (PHE) made several recommendations, specifically on commercial baby foods and drinks,” she notes.  

Children aged between the ages of 1.5 and 3 years are exceeding 27.9 g (equivalent of 7 teaspoons) of free sugars per day, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey.WHO recommendations include banning misleading labeling and claims relating to sugar content or product healthiness. PHE held a consultation on their draft proposals titled “Commercial baby food and drink guidelines” in 2020, the results of which are yet to be published, Gabriel explains. 

High sugar weaning foods 
The product survey found Heinz Farley’s Mini Rusks Original to be the worst offender with 8.7 g of sugar per serving – the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar. This, despite the health claims about added vitamins and minerals on the pack.

The second worst product was Organix Banana Soft Oaty Bars at 8.1 g of sugar per serving, sweetened with apple juice concentrate (a type of free sugar). Organix defended itself in a statement saying that most sugar in its bars comes from dried fruit, which contains naturally occurring sugars. 

Five Kiddylicious products also scored the worst for sugars per 100 g: Kiddylicious Banana Crispy Tiddlers are made up of over half sugars (59 g per 100 g). At the same time, Kiddylicious Pineapple, Coconut & Mango Juicy Fruit Bars are nearly a third sugar (30.7 g per 100 g). 

Only six products out of 73 (8%) would get a green (low) label for sugars. 

“It is evident that not enough progress is being made voluntarily – and that baby and toddler foods specifically are missing from many key obesity strategies, and this should be refitted immediately,” asserts Gabriel. 

“Parents are confused by baby foods, and the government and good companies should make it much easier for them to be able to make healthy choices for their children.”

Government disruption, obesity crisis 
Children aged between the ages of 1.5 and 3 years are exceeding 27.9 g (equivalent of 7 teaspoons) of free sugars per day, according to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey.Gabriel stresses that mandatory guidelines for baby and toddler snacks have fallen through legislation due to the dismantling of PHE and the creation of a new body (Office for Health Improvement and Disparities) along with COVID-19.

“A mandated guideline will enforce a level-playing field and no new products can enter the market without ensuring they meet minimum standards for babies and toddlers,” she says. 

“Guidelines that are fit for purpose and appropriate for the category of food are key to provide clear, consistent labeling. We have had one recent consultation on labeling from the UK government and we are awaiting the outcome.”

Concerns that a failure to implement tough legislation against HFFS foods for children could exacerbate the obesity crisis and raise levels of disease abound. 

Professor Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at Queen Mary University of London and chairman of Action on Sugar, adds: “Consuming too much sugar on a regular basis means we’re eating too many calories. If we don’t use those calories as fuel, our body will store them as fat. This can lead to weight gain and if this happens to our children, it’s likely they will carry the weight into their adolescent and adult years, potentially leading to overweight or obesity, as well as suffering from agonizing tooth decay.”

“It is therefore imperative that food companies act more responsibly and commit to reformulate sugar, salt and calorie reduction instead of foisting unhealthy products with misleading nutrition claims upon well-meaning parents.”

, with additional reporting by Nicole Kerr 

By Louis Gore-Langton