WHO Sets Daily Recommended Guidelines for Added Sugars

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that adults and
children reduce their daily intake of added sugars to less than 10 percent of
their total daily energy intake. In addition, WHO calls for consumers to limit
their consumption of added sugars to less than 25 grams (6 teaspoons) for
further health benefits.

The new advice follows the release of the U.S. Department of Health and
Department of Agriculture’s proposed Dietary Guidelines for Americans,
which would set similar limits for glucose, fructose and sucrose added to food
and drink by manufacturers, retailers or consumers.

“We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10% of
total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay,”
said Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health
and Development, in a March 4, 2015, press release. “Making policy changes
to support this will be key if countries are to live up to their commitments to
reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases.”

Issue 558