Introduction: The World Health Organization (WHO) has published its draft guidelines on daily sugar intake on its official website, recommending that to prevent disease, daily intake of free sugars should be limited to less than 6 teaspoons (about 25 grams) or less than 5% of total energy intake.
On March 5, the World Health Organization (WHO) published its draft guidelines on daily sugar intake on its official website, soliciting public comments. According to the guidelines, for adults with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5 to less than 25), daily intake of free sugars should be limited to less than 6 teaspoons (about 25 grams) or less than 5% of total energy intake to prevent disease. The public consultation period ended on March 31.
Controlling sugar intake to prevent obesity and dental caries
WHO stated that the fundamental purpose of issuing these sugar intake guidelines is to "limit the intake of sugars for both adults and children, thereby reducing obesity and dental caries, and in turn, reducing public health problems".
Previously, the relevant guidelines (2002 version) stated that daily sugar intake should be less than 10% of total daily energy intake. The new guidelines revise this figure to less than 5% of total daily energy intake for better effect. For people with a normal BMI, the amount of free sugar representing less than 5% of total daily energy is about 6 teaspoons (25 grams).
Sugars subject to restriction include monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose, and disaccharides such as sucrose and maltose. In addition, honey, syrup, fruit juice, and fruits are also within the scope of restriction.
The sugar content in a can of carbonated beverage far exceeds the limit
However, it is not a simple matter to actually limit people's daily sugar intake to less than 6 teaspoons. Sugars are often widely used in food processing in forms invisible to the naked eye. According to WHO, one teaspoon of ketchup contains 4 grams of sugar, and one can of carbonated beverage contains 40 grams (about 10 teaspoons of sugar).
WHO points out that unrestricted sugar intake can lead to obesity and cavities. Obesity is closely linked to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and even heart disease and stroke. To maintain health and a normal weight, sugar intake should be limited to maintain a person's daily energy balance.