Intake of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners in Chilean Children after Enforcement of a New Food Labeling Law that Regulates Added Sugar Content in Processed Foods.

Ximena Martínez,Attilio Rigotti,Martje Elbers,María Isabel Hodgson,Camila Cornejo,Victoria Pinto,Guadalupe Echeverría,Yazmín Zapata,Luis Villarroel,Maaike Van Der Graaf

doi:10.3390/nu12061594

Ximena Martínez, Attilio Rigotti + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061594

Copy DOI

Abstract

After enforcement of a new food labeling law in 2016, Chile exhibits a greater offer to reduced sugar products with addition of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). Many of these products are consumed by children, who are at greater risk of reaching the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of these food additives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake levels of NNS in Chilean schoolchildren after the enactment of the aforementioned law. A total of 250 Chilean children 6–12 years old were surveyed. NNS intake was assessed through a food frequency questionnaire. All children evaluated consumed at least one NNS during the previous month. Sucralose had the highest consumption frequency reaching 99.2%, followed by acesulfame-K (92.8%), stevia (86.0%), and aspartame (85.2%). Aspartame showed the highest median intake, which came mainly from beverages (96%). No children exceeded the ADI of any NNS. Smaller children exhibited a higher body weight-adjusted intake of sucralose, acesulfame-K, stevia, and aspartame (p < 0.05). In Chile, a wide range of processed foods with NNSs is available and all schoolchildren evaluated consumed at least one product containing NNS. However, this consumption does not exceed defined ADIs for any of the six sweeteners authorized for food use in Chile.

Highlights

In the last Chilean National Health Survey performed in 2016–2017, 40% and 31% of people aged more than 15 years were overweight or obese, respectively [1]
All children surveyed consumed some type of nutritive sweeteners (NNS) provided by beverages, dairy products, or other processed foods
Despite high availability and exposure to NNSs, all school children included in this study reported appropriate intake of each individual type of these food additives compared to predefined acceptable daily intake (ADI)

Summary

Introduction

In the last Chilean National Health Survey performed in 2016–2017, 40% and 31% of people aged more than 15 years were overweight or obese, respectively [1]. Nutrients 2020, 12, 1594 to improve the food environment focusing on the quality of food products offered to consumers, with particular emphasis in the child population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a reduction in sugar (monosaccharide and disaccharide) consumption present in foods below 10% -and a stricter recommendation reaching 5%- of total daily energy intake [4]. This decrease in sugars or caloric sweetener consumption would attenuate the ongoing increase in body weight and its cardiometabolic consequences [5,6]. A high consumption of processed foods and drinks has been associated with obesity and other diet-related non-communicable diseases [7]

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion