Foodwatch: Austrians consume their yearly sugar allowance by early August

WHO recommendation and actual consumption

Children and adolescents are particularly affected. According to Foodwatch, every third boy and every fourth girl of primary school age is already affected by overweight or obesity. The organization also points to long-term consequences: around 70 percent of affected children remain overweight in adulthood.

Another point of criticism from the organization is directed at sweetened children's drinks. Foodwatch speaks of a complete over-sugaring of these products: a single packet of a typical children's drink can contain around six sugar cubes. Consumers frequently underestimate the sugar content of such beverages because they are marketed as healthy or at least neutral.

Children's drinks in the crosshairs

The consumer organization is therefore calling for binding measures. These include a significant reduction of the sugar content in soft drinks and children's beverages, clear labeling, and fiscal incentives to make healthier alternatives more attractive. Without political intervention, the trend can hardly be reversed, Foodwatch warned.

The WHO has also been pointing out the health risks of high sugar consumption for years. Overweight and obesity are considered significant risk factors for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer. A decline in sugar consumption at the population level could, in the assessment of health organizations, make a noticeable contribution to easing the burden on healthcare systems.

Early cutoff date, late solution

The calculation of the annual cutoff date by which the recommended amount of sugar is mathematically consumed follows a simple principle: the total annual intake is divided across the days of a year. This year's cutoff date of August 3 is, according to Foodwatch, again very early and makes clear that hardly anything has changed in consumption habits in Austria.

In the European comparison, it becomes apparent that above all countries with high soft drink consumption reach the annual value early. The United Kingdom is also mentioned in this context. Foodwatch sees this as an indication that voluntary self-commitments by industry are not enough to effectively reduce sugar intake.

Demands on politics and industry

At the same time, nutrition experts point out that education alone is rarely sufficient. What matters is the composition of what is on offer in supermarkets, canteens, and schools. When sweetened drinks are ubiquitous and cheap, families – especially children – preferentially reach for them.

Foodwatch announced that the results are drawn from several surveys on soft drink consumption and are supported by external data. The organization announced that it will continue to advocate strongly for political regulations and maintain pressure on manufacturers and retailers.

The next step, in the assessment of observers, could consist of a broader debate about possible sugar taxes and binding maximum levels in beverages. Until then, August 3 remains a symbol of a nutritional problem that has been known for years – and that remains unsolved in Austria.