Published Friday 23 October 2015 at 12:56
Blackburn with Darwen health bosses have backed a national call to reduce the public’s sugar intake.
Parents and families are being urged to cut sugary drinks from their own and their children’s daily diet after Public Health England said the country consumes too much sugar, leading to major health consequences.
A study by Public Health England found that the average teenager consumes more than three times the recommended level of sugar – whilst adults have more than twice the advised limit.
The health organisation has called for a significant reduction in opportunities for marketing and advertising high sugar, food and drink products to children and adults across all media including digital platforms and through sponsorship.
They also suggest the introduction of a price increase of a minimum of 10-20% on high sugar products through the use of a tax such as on full sugar soft drinks, based on the emerging evidence of the impact of such measures in other countries.
Councillor Brian Taylor, Assistant Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, has backed the national call, saying:
I fully support and welcome this evidence-based report and all the suggested measures. As well as damaging your teeth, the overconsumption of sugary drinks and foods can lead to weight gain, type 2 diabetes and poor heart health.
It is vital that we send a message about the damage that is being done to the health of our children and young people. Food manufacturers often argue that children should be free to make their own choices. My response is, yes, let children be free to choose their food and stop promoting sugar products through advertising and sports sponsorship in a way that makes their choices the opposite of ‘free’.