WHO Draft Guidelines On Sugars Intake

By Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published draft guidelines on sugars intake to reduce non-communicable diseases linked to obesity and dental caries (tooth decay).

The guidelines recommend that sugars should make up less than 10 percent of total energy intake per day, and ideally be less than 5 percent, which amounts to around 6 teaspoons for adults. This includes sugars naturally occurring in foods, as well as in manufactured products. The second category is important as most of the sugars people consume are “hidden” in processed foods that are not considered “sweet”.

The guidelines are intended to help policymakers develop measures to decrease sugar intake which may include food and product labelling as well as consumer education and food-based dietary guidelines.

The guidelines are now open for public consultation and comments until the 31 March and are accessible here. They are simultaneously going through the peer-review process before they can be cleared by the WHO’s Guidelines Review Committee.