Greater awareness needed of the extreme dangers of hidden sugars

This follows publication of the new Eatwell Guide by Public Health England (PHE) that has highlighted the dangers hidden sugars in fruit juices and smoothies pose to our oral health.

Recommendations in the guide have been altered to advise limiting the consumption of drinks such as fruit juices and smoothies to 150mls per day.

The charity has welcomed this move and sees it as an important step in increasing awareness of apparently ‘healthy’ options containing dangerous levels of sugar.

Dentist Ben Atkins, trustee of the British Dental Health Foundation, commented on the new guide:

“There is a real problem in getting everyone to recognise when there are hidden sugars in food or drink which people perceive to be ‘healthy’, especially in things like smoothies and fruit juices which are currently very fashionable.

“Many of us are just not aware of the very high levels of sugar in some of these and that is a huge problem when it comes to our oral health.