Over two-thirds of the 136 beverages intended for children exceed the recommended sugar limits.
According to a study conducted by consumer group Foodwatch, a large number of beverages marketed towards kids are packed with an excessive amount of sugar. Out of 136 such drinks analyzed, 117 (86%) had over 5 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters. In the UK, these sugary drinks would be subject to a so-called "sugar tax." Now, Foodwatch is advocating for a similar policy in Germany.
The researchers looked at various types of drinks from the top five supermarket chains, whose packaging is appealing to children and young adults. This included drinks with cartoon characters, animal prints, or trendy designs like iced teas or energy drinks. Even drinking pouches and small bottles with straws were included in the analysis. The study covered sodas, fruit juices, energy drinks, mineral water, and iced teas.
On average, these drinks contained 7.8% sugar, which translates to around six and a half sugar cubes in a 250-milliliter glass, according to Foodwatch. Only four of the analyzed products would get a green Nutriscore (A or B), while 25% would be rated yellow (C), and a staggering 74% would receive an orange or red score (D or E).
The drink with the highest sugar content was an energy drink, containing 15.6 grams of sugar per 100 milliliters. One can of this drink would reportedly exceed a child or young adult's daily sugar intake by a whopping three times, as per Foodwatch.
"The consumption of sugary drinks by children and young people is a significant risk factor for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease," stated Berthold Koletzko from the University of Munich's children's clinic, as quoted by Foodwatch. Therefore, they believe that effective measures to decrease the consumption of sweet beverages are "urgently required."
The study found that many beverages aimed at children, such as those with cartoon characters or trendy designs, contain high levels of sugar. Parents should be aware that consuming just one can of the drink with the highest sugar content could exceed a child's daily sugar intake by three times.
