Children exceed sugar recommendation despite fewer sugary drinks

This is according to the latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), published recently by Public Health England (PHE).

Children aged four to 10 years drank 100mls of sugary drinks on average in 2012-14, a decrease from 130mls/day in 2008-10. However, sugar makes up 13 per cent of children’s daily calorie intake, while the official recommendation is to limit it to no more than 5 per cent. Worryingly, teenagers continue to consume three times the official recommendation for sugar (15 per cent) and adults over twice as much (12 per cent).

The survey also confirms that the UK population continues to consume too much saturated fat and not enough fruit, vegetables and fibre. Average saturated fat intake for adults aged 19 to 64 is 12.7 per cent of daily calorie intake, above the 11 per cent recommendation.

The same age group consume on average four portions of fruit and vegetables per day; older adults, aged 65 and over, consume 4.2 portions and children aged 11 to 18 consume 2.8 portions per day. Only 27 per cent percent of adults, 35 per cent of older adults and 8 per cent of 11 to18 year olds meet the five a day recommendation for fruit and vegetables.