Action on Sugar is a registered UK charity formed in 2014 by a group of specialists concerned about sugar and its impact on health. Through research and lobbying the group works to highlight the harmful effects of a high sugar diet and desirability of reducing the amount of

added sugar Added sugars or free sugars are sugar carbohydrates (caloric sweeteners) added to food and beverages at some point before their consumption. These include added carbohydrates (monosaccharides and disaccharides), and more broadly, sugars natural ...

contained in processed foods. Professor Graham MacGregor, a cardiologist at Queen Mary University of London is chair of both of Action on Sugar and Action on Salt. It argues for more regulation of health and nutrition claims. It is particularly concerned about the “dangerously high” levels of sugar in on-the-go sweet snacks and highlighted

Aldi Aldi (stylised as ALDI) is the common company brand name of two German multinational family-owned discount supermarket chains operating over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The chain was founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946, when t ...

’s Specially Selected Triple Chocolate Cookies, which contained 39g sugar per 80g serving.

Research

Published studies in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology journal by expert advisors associated with Action on Sugar have highlighted the cost to public health of excessive amounts of sugar in carbonated drinks. Research findings are frequently contested by UK food and beverage industry groups, specifically, the

Food and Drink Federation The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) is a membership organisation that represents and advises UK food and drink manufacturers. Membership The Food and Drink Federation members are companies of all sizes as well as trade associations and groups ...

. In February 2016, Action on Sugar research highlighted the levels of sugar found in hot drinks purchased from many high street chains such as Costa Coffee and

Starbucks Starbucks Corporation is an American multinational chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It is the world's largest coffeehouse chain. As of November 2021, the company had 33,833 stores in 80 c ...

. Sugar is seen as a significant contributor to the high levels of

obesity Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's we ...

, tooth decay and

Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes, formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, is a form of diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, ...

found in many developed economies such as the United Kingdom.

Public Health England Public Health England (PHE) was an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in England which began operating on 1 April 2013 to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Its formation came as a ...

published targets for the reduction of sugar in a range of products in March 2017.

References

{{reflist Sugar Health charities in the United Kingdom Obesity in the United Kingdom Charities based in London Food policy in the United Kingdom 2014 establishments in England

Research

See also

References