Motion for a recommendation | Doc. 13616 | 30 September 2014
Obesity in Europe and expressing sugar in teaspoonfuls on packaging
The Parliamentary Assembly notes the growth of obesity and diabetes across Europe and the associated growth in health services costs. There is a clear link between added sugar in processed foods and obesity, and the World Health Organisation recommends a maximum daily intake of sugar of 5% of calories equivalent to 6 teaspoonfuls for a woman and 9 for a man. Moreover high added sugar products are regularly promoted as low fat products even though they make people fat.
Therefore the Assembly calls on the Committee of Ministers to support expressing sugar in teaspoonfuls on packaging so consumers can make healthy choices more easily and restrict the advertising of high sugar products as low fat products.