In recent years, extreme cases like “drinking milk tea and getting milk blood” have frequently made headlines, sparking heated online discussions about reducing, controlling, or even quitting sugar. But do consumers truly understand sugar? Do they know how to scientifically reduce and control sugar intake? Recently, the Science and Technology Center for Food and Health Information released a special survey report and invited experts to interpret the results.
Nearly 70% of Consumers Willing to Control Sugar Intake
The survey shows that 68% of consumers are willing to control their sugar intake, with young people and those anxious about their weight showing a stronger inclination. However, the “Sugar Intake Levels and Risk Assessment of Urban Residents ” indicates that urban residents consume an average of 9.1 grams of sugar per day, meeting the “Dietary Guidelines for Residents (2022)” recommendation of less than 25 grams per day. Moreover, the sugar intake accounts for only 1.9% of the total dietary energy, with the highest being in the 3-6 age group at 3.4% of total energy, far below the World Health Organization’s 10% recommendation.
Currently, the data show that the sugar intake of Chinese residents is not excessive. For most people, controlling sugar is not as urgent as controlling salt, oil, and total energy intake. However, it is noteworthy that in the past 20 years, the annual sugar production in China has more than doubled. Additionally, overweight and obese individuals, diabetics, and those with consistently high blood sugar should indeed pay attention to controlling their sugar intake.
Watch the “Shelf” and Don’t Ignore the “Kitchen”
When it comes to controlling sugar, consumers easily think of sugary drinks, pastries, and candies. In recent years, sugar-free drinks and foods have become more popular. The survey found that 78% of consumers believe that sugar intake in foods and beverages should be controlled.
Zhong Kai, Director of the Science and Technology Center for Food and Health Information, stated that people generally focus on “reducing salt, oil, and sugar” in supermarket foods and drinks but ignore the salt, oil, and sugar in their daily meals. In reality, controlling the use of salt, oil, and sugar in home kitchens, cafeterias, and restaurant kitchens is crucial for “three reductions.”
Consumer Nutrition and Health Education is a Long-Term Task
Reading food ingredient lists can help consumers understand the main components of food, such as sucrose, fructose, and high-fructose corn syrup, which are typical sugar ingredients. Hidden sugars include honey, jam, and concentrated fruit juice. However, the survey shows that less than 10% of consumers can accurately identify these sugary ingredients.
Academician Chen Junshi of the Chinese Academy of Engineering believes that consumer nutrition and health education is a long-term task. The “National Food Safety Standard for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods (Draft for Comments)” has made it mandatory to label sugar content, which will help the public better understand the sugar content in food. Ultimately, consumers need to learn to make independent choices and create a healthy diet.
