lIMIT INTAKE OF FOODS CONTAINING SATuRATED FAT, ADDED SAlT, ADDED SuGARS AND AlCOHOl
79Guideline 3
3.3.4 Practical considerations: limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars
In light of the current prevalence of overweight and obesity (see Chapter 1), the dietary guidelines of many
countries recommend significant reductions in foods that contribute to energy while providing few, if any,
nutrients.^198 Many foods and drinks containing some fats, added sugars (simple carbohydrates) and some
starches (complex carbohydrates), and alcohol fit into this category. Sugars provide approximately a quarter of
children’s energy intake, with 4.6–7.6% of energy coming from sugar-sweetened drinks other than milk.^12
There is insufficient evidence to recommend an exact intake of added sugars suitable for the whole population.
From a nutritional perspective, good health can be achieved without the addition of sugars in any form to
the diet. For those who are not overweight and are already consuming an adequate diet (a minority of the
population), added sugars relate mainly to the problem of dental caries. For the majority of the population,
however, overweight and obesity are major problems and require a reduction in energy intake. limiting added
sugars, particularly from sugar-sweetened drinks, is one strategy for adults and children. The World Health
Organization recommends that no more than 10% of energy should come from added sugars.^88 Recent data
from the uS suggests a level of 5–10% of energy from added sugars may be appropriate.^757 This is much less
than current Australian consumption, reinforcing the continued need for this Guideline.
Infants
Baby-bottle caries is a recognised problem in infants who are pacified by sucking on a bottle for long periods.
Babies who fall asleep while continuing to feed from a bottle containing infant formula, fruit juice or other
sugar-containing liquid can develop a severe form of tooth decay.^785 Infants do not need added sugars and
FSANZ stipulates that ready-prepared infant foods with more than 4g of added sugars per 100g must be
labelled as ‘sweetened’.^755 For further information, see the Infant Feeding Guidelines.^351
Children and adolescents
Milk and water are the recommended drinks for children. Children and adolescents should limit intake of
sugar-sweetened drinks. Common sugar-sweetened drinks include soft drink, ‘sports drinks’, ‘vitamin waters’,
cordials, fruit drinks and energy drinks. Energy drinks may also be high in caffeine and are not suitable for
children. Sweetened flavoured milk provides nutrients but can be energy dense; plain milk is preferable.
Older people
Including a moderate amount of added sugars as a flavour enhancer can increase variety and palatability for
older people and may not compromise nutrient intake if added to nutritious foods. Sugars are also a readily
absorbed source of energy for frail elderly people.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
In remote Aboriginal communities, apparent consumption of sugars is much higher than the Australian average
while consumption of fruit and vegetables is well below the Australian average.^352 In remote communities
where apparent consumption was measured, added sugars contributed approximately 30% of total energy
intake, with 60% of the sugars in the form of white sugar added to foods and drinks. No data are available for
urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Historically, Aboriginal Australians had substantially
fewer dental caries than non-Indigenous people, but this trend has been reversed with the oral health of
non-Indigenous children improving and that of Aboriginal children deteriorating.^786 Aboriginal children and
children from lower socioeconomic groups have not had the improvement in dental health seen in other children.