World Health Organisation advises halving sugar intake

The World Health Organisation advises halving the amount of sugar that people consume daily, after Britain's chief medical officer Dame Sally Davies said a sugar tax may be needed to curb obesity rates

A report by scientists at Newcastle University suggested that limits on daily sugar intake should be halved to five per cent – the equivalent of six teaspoons 

By Edward Malnick

The daily allowance for a person's sugar intake should be halved to six teaspoons, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Draft guidance published by the international body advises a dramatic reduction in sugar consumption to help avoid mounting health problems including obesity and tooth decay.

The WHO is proposing to retain its current formal recommendation that no more than 10 per cent of an individual's calories should come from sugar – the equivalent of 12 "level" teaspoons a day for the average adult.

However, its draft guidelines state that a further reduction to 5 per cent "would have additional benefits". The lower limit amounts to around six teaspoons – less than the levels of sugar in a 50g Mars Bar.

The move comes amid growing evidence that sugar contributes to a range of chronic diseases. It follows calls by scientists for the recommendation to be halved.

The WHO's announcement comes after a study by the University of Southern California found that eating too much protein could be as dangerous as smoking for middle–aged people.

Separately a leading heart scientist has warned that NHS guidelines advising people to cut down on high–fat foods may be putting the public at risk. Dr James DiNicolantonio warns that more focus is needed on the "harms" of consuming high levels of carbohydrates and sugar.

The WHO limits apply to all "free" sugar, which is sugar that is added to foods by the manufacturer, plus that naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices.

The announcement came after Dame Sally Davies, Britain's chief medical officer, suggested a sugar tax to curb obesity rates.

Dr Francesco Branca, director for nutrition for health and development at the WHO, warned that obesity already affected half a billion people. The recommendation for less than 5 per cent was important because it told countries that reductions to "below 5 per cent are even better", he said.

The WHO warned that much of the sugars consumed today were "hidden" in processed foods "that are not usually seen as sweets".

Dr Branca said a single can of fizzy drink could exceed the amount of sugar that children should have in a day under the current limits, which are reflected in NHS guidance.

The new draft guidelines, which are now out to consultation, were published after the WHO considered a report by scientists at Newcastle University which suggested the limit should be halved to reduce tooth decay.

The Action on Sugar campaign group, which also backs the move as a way of helping to tackle obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, said the WHO's proposals should have gone further and halved the 10 per cent recommendation.

Dr Aseem Malhotra, science director of Action on Sugar, said: "It is a step in the right direction because they have acknowledged it should be less than 5 per cent, but it needs to be translated into something meaningful for the consumer."

The industry denies the claims over the effect of sugar on health, saying expert committees had found that the “balance of evidence” exonerated the substance from contributing to “lifestyle diseases”.

However the WHO warned of “increasing concern” that consumption of free sugars can contribute towards diseases such as diabetes and tooth decay.

Alison Tedstone, Director of Nutrition and Diet at Public Health England (PHE), the official advisory body, said: “PHE welcome the new WHO draft guidelines to reduce sugar intake to 10 per cent of total daily calorie intake and will carefully consider the suggestion that a further reduction of sugar to below 5 per cent of total energy intake per day would have additional benefits."

A Department of Health spokesman added: "We are already making real progress in getting food and drink manufacturers to cut the amount of calories, including sugar, in their foods through the public health Responsibility Deal."

Barbara Gallani, director of regulation, science and health at the Food and Drink Federation, an industry body, said manufacturers were already working to reduce overall calories.

She added: “Where a conditional recommendation of a further reduction of sugars intake to below 5 per cent of total energy is made, the report cautions that there is greater uncertainty about the quality of the underpinning science base. WHO emphasise the need for ‘substantial debate and involvement of stakeholders before this recommendation can be adopted as policy’."