Abstract
The purpose of the paper was a cross sectional study to evaluate the use of sugars and selected sweeteners by Polish consumers in their diet. The survey was conducted using the direct interview method on the group of 2000 adults declaring the consumption of sugar or sweeteners. The ANOVA test and multi-dimensional cluster analysis was used to the data interpretation (p < 0.05). It was stated that the consumption of sugar among consumers remained at a high level. Respondents declared taking up the activities towards reducing sugar intake in their diet mostly due to health-related reasons. It was emphasized in particular by women taking part in the survey. The most frequent way to limit the amount of sugar in the diet consisted in choosing sweeteners, mainly stevia and xylitol. However, the knowledge concerning steviol glycosides among the consumers was not extensive. Results are the source of up-to-date information concerning the consumption of sugar and sweeteners. Consumers to whom nutrition campaigns on the necessity to limit the content of sugar in the diet are worth addressing were identified. A hypothesis, that consumers are currently more aware of the negative influence of increased sugar consumption on their health and they aim at limiting the content of added sugar in their diet, was confirmed.
Highlights
The diet of Poles, to the majority of inhabitants of EU member states, is characterized by a too-high percentage of energy from refined sugars
Our studies demonstrate that insufficient knowledge of Polish consumers concerning steviol glycosides is the source of low interest of both women as well as persons aged over 60 in stevia and products containing its addition
Sugar consumption among surveyed Poles remained at a high level
Summary
The diet of Poles, to the majority of inhabitants of EU member states, is characterized by a too-high percentage of energy from refined sugars. In spite of lower consumption of sugar in its pure form, its total consumption has increased. This results from increased consumption of processed products with the addition of sugar. Taking into account pure sugar and the sugar contained in preserves, in the 1950s its consumption in Poland amounted to 21–27.9 kg/1 inhabitant, and was constantly increasing in order to reach 30.6–38.9 kg in the 1960s, 41.4 kg in the 1980s and. In the years 2015–2017, it amounted on average to 22.3 kg/person and differed depending on the continent. In Europe it was on average 36.1 kg, in the USA 31.8 kg, in Latin America—41.8 kg, in Asia—18.2 kg (it was higher in Indonesia—25.4 kg), and in Africa—15.7 kg/person/year (the quantity recorded in Egypt—36.7 kg) [3]. Sugar intake in the diet of Poles exceeds the average consumption in other European countries, and is close only to
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