DT News - UK - Leading UK beverage manufacturers to reduce sugar levels

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 28 January 2013

save

LONDON, UK: The manufacturers of British beverage brands Lucozade and Ribena will be reducing the amount of sugar and calories in their products by up to 10 per cent, public health minister Anna Soubry has announced. The action is part of the government’s drive to reduce levels of obesity and will also help reduce dental decay.

According to the British Dental Health Foundation, England alone has some of the highest obesity rates in the developed world, with 60 per cent of adults and one-third of ten- and 11-year-olds being overweight or obese. Additionally, more than three in every ten children starting primary school have tooth decay, and a third of children aged 12 have visible dental decay.

The manufacturer of Ribena stated on its website: “By the end of 2013 we will have set long-term commitments for the reduction of calorie and sugar content across our drinks portfolio. We want to offer people a choice of products, including lower-calorie options with the Ribena Light and no-added-sugar options. We have committed to reducing the calorie and sugar content of ready-to-drink Ribena products sold in the UK and Ireland. As a first step, by 2014, we will reduce sugar content by 10 per cent (vs. 2011 levels), which is equivalent to the removal of 850 tonnes of sugars and 3.4 billion calories.”

Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, pointed to high levels of sugar in diets as the major factor behind the alarming obesity and dental decay figures: “Health professionals have long held the opinion that sugar is addictive. That is why the announcement that a number of leading soft drinks brands will reduce the amount of sugar they contain is a step in the right direction. More can always be done to tackle obesity and dental decay, and the Responsibility Deal can go further in improving public health. Hopefully this news will encourage more brands to come forward and support the deal,” Carter stated.

To post a reply please login or register

UK public underestimates sugar levels in popular drinks

GLASGOW – People in the UK significantly misjudge the amount of sugar in popular drinks, researchers at the University of Glasgow have found. This is ...

Sugar tax may have reduced UK paediatric tooth extractions—study

CAMBRIDGE, UK: Dental caries is the primary cause of elective hospital admissions among UK children aged 5–9 years, and the disease accounts for nearly ...

Researchers call for global initiative to reduce sugar intake

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE – A new study, which was commissioned by the World Health Organization (WHO), has provided new evidence that the reduction of the ...

High sugar levels in vegan ready meals, warns campaign group

Action on Sugar, a campaigning group which informs and influences sugar reduction policies in the UK, warns that vegan ready meals can contain more than ...

Ability to chew properly may improve blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes

Health care providers are recommended to check the teeth of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), in a new study conducted by the University at Buffalo. ...

Sugar, sugar … honey, money

The sugar tax is finally upon us, but are corner shops or supermarkets for that matter likely to worry about this potentially threatening change to their ...

UK makes progress on sugar reduction in yogurts

LEEDS, UK: The UK government has recently taken action to reduce sugar intake in the country and called for industry reformulation of foods that contribute ...

ACFF addresses need to limit sugar intake in children

LONDON, UK: The Alliance for a Cavity-Free Future (ACFF) is a not-for-profit organisation formed by a group of dental professionals. According to the ACFF, ...

Leading dental schools unite

LONDON, UK: Four of the world’s top dental colleges have entered into an alliance that aims to advance dental education and pursue new research ...

BDA calls for radical action to lower Britain’s sugar intake

LONDON, UK: Lately, there have been increasing efforts to curb Britain’s high sugar consumption. Although the British Dental Association (BDA) has ...

Education

Live webinar
Fri. 19 July 2024
1:00 am UTC (London)