Labelling changes in response to a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Kawther M Hashem,Feng J He,Graham A Macgregor

doi:10.2471/blt.19.234542

Kawther M Hashem, Feng J He + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.19.234542

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Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the changes in sugar and energy labelling of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks after the implementation of a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.MethodsWe visited nine main supermarkets before (May 2014) and after (April 2018) the tax came into effect and obtained data from product packaging and nutrition information panels of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks. We used the paired t-test to assess differences in sugar and energy content of the same products between 2014 and 2018.FindingsWe obtained data from 166 products in 2014 and 464 products in 2018, of which 83 products were the same in both years. Large variations in stated sugar content were found between the different carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks in both 2014 and 2018 for all products and for the 83 products. The mean sugar content of the 83 products decreased by 42% between 2014 and 2018, from 9.1 g/100 mL (standard deviation, SD: 3.3) to 5.3 g/100 mL (SD: 3.5; P < 0.001). The mean energy content decreased by 40%, from 38 kcal/100 mL (SD: 13) in 2014 to 23 kcal/100 mL (SD: 15) in 2018 (P < 0.001).ConclusionThe significant decreases in the labelling of sugar and energy content of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks after the levy came into effect suggest this tax has been effective. The sugar content of drinks still varied considerably in 2018, suggesting further reductions in sugar content of these drinks is possible. The levy thresholds should be reduced and the tax increased to drive further reformulation of soft drinks to reduce their sugar content.

Highlights

IntroductionIn July 2015, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recommended that average free sugars (sugar) intake across the country’s population should not exceed 5% of total energy intake.[1] The committee defined free sugars as all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups (e.g. high fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup and maple syrup) and unsweetened fruit juices
In July 2015, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recommended that average free sugars intake across the country’s population should not exceed 5% of total energy intake.[1]
Our study shows early changes in the sugar content on labels of carbonated sugar-sweetened soft drinks in the United Kingdom

Summary

Introduction

In July 2015, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recommended that average free sugars (sugar) intake across the country’s population should not exceed 5% of total energy intake.[1] The committee defined free sugars as all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups (e.g. high fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup and maple syrup) and unsweetened fruit juices. Free sugars do not include lactose when naturally present in milk and milk products, nor sugars contained within the cellular structure of foods (whole fruits and vegetables).[1] this definition is new and not aligned with current nutrition labelling on food packaging and manufacturers’ claims about sugar content. The committee on nutrition advised that consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks be minimized in children and adults,[1] because high intake of sugar is contributing to obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental caries,[2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10] all of which are major public health problems in the United Kingdom.[11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18]

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