Global consumption of sugary drinks is increasing, research confirms
- World’s diet is getting sweeter, particularly with beverages
- sugar consumption is rising fastest in less affluent countries, and falling in richer nations
- Germany is Europe’s top consumer of sugary drinks
- Research by academics at City University London (UK) and University of North Carolina (USA)
New research from universities in the UK and USA has confirmed the global diet is getting sweeter, particularly when it comes to beverages.
The paper, published in the Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology medical journal, reveals consumption of sugary drinks is rising fastest in low- and middle-income countries, but is declining in high-income regions.
However, the fall in richer nations has occurred alongside a rise in consumption of sports and energy drinks.
Germany consumes the most sugar-sweetened drinks per person in Europe and is sixth worldwide – ahead of the UK (29th), France (34th) and Italy (37th).
The researchers, Professor Corinna Hawkes of City University London and Professor Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina, conclude that governments are making progress in cutting consumption of sugar but more measures must be introduced.
In a list of 54 countries around the world, Germany is the sixth highest for the number of calories in sugar-sweetened beverages sold per person per day, in data from 2014. Chile is top of the list, with Mexico second and the USA now in third after dropping from its position as the world’s largest consumer in the last 15 years. In Germany, consumption of all sugar-sweetened drinks declined slightly from 97.36 kilocalories per person per day in 2009, to 95.99 in 2014.However, consumption of sports and energy drinks in Germany increased from 3.27 kilocalories per person per day to in 2009, to 4.87 in 2014.
Professor Hawkes said:
"Our research shows the rest of the world is catching up with US levels of sugar consumption. The good news is that many countries are putting policies into place to reduce sugar intake, especially from sugary drinks. The bad news is that there is not nearly enough action.
“We know policies are feasible and data is beginning to emerge that shows effectiveness – the soda tax in Mexico, for example. Governments have no excuse not to build a comprehensive policy to reduce sugar intake in the context of broader strategies to ensure healthier diets for all."
The analysis shows that the four regions with the highest consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages are North America, Latin America, Australasia and western Europe.
Consumption is rising steeply in low-income and middle-income countries, in Latin America, the Caribbean Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania, where action is “urgently needed”.
The new paper brings together evidence on the negative effects sugary drinks can have on health, confirming their association with problems such as weight gain and diabetes.
However, the researchers explain there is a lack of consensus on the health effects of beverages with low-calorie sweeteners and fruit juices.
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages appears to be decreasing in countries where taxes have been introduced, including Mexico, France, Finland and Hungary.
In the absence of intervention from governments, the researchers predict the rest of the world will increase consumption and move towards the situation in the USA, where 68 percent of packaged foods and beverages contain caloric sweeteners.
Get the food & beverage industry in your inbox
From now on, don't miss a thing: Our newsletter for the food & beverage sector brings you up to date every Tuesday and Thursday. The latest industry news, product highlights and innovations - compact and easy to understand in your inbox. Researched by us so you don't have to.
