02/12/2013

Safefood Urges Parents To Choose Water Instead Of Juice Drinks

As part of a campaign to take on childhood obesity, safefood is urging parents to choose water instead of juice drinks as they announced results of a label survey into the sugar levels of a wide selection of popular drinks for children.

Many of the drinks that safefood compared contained as much sugar as 'fizzy drinks'. For example, a 200ml serving of a popular juice drink contained as much sugar as the equivalent serving of well-known fizzy soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi or 7UP. Some popular supermarket brands of cordials and dilutes were found to contain even higher sugar levels, with as much as five cubes of sugar in a small glass.

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director of Human Health and Nutrition, safefood said: "Many parents may be under the impression that juice drinks that mention the term 'fruit' are a healthier alternative for their children than fizzy drinks.

"What parents may not realise is that these drinks are often really high in sugar and could contain as much sugar as 'fizzy' soft drinks."

(CD/JP)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

23 June 2014
Majority Agree To Tax Sugary Drinks
The majority of the Irish public agree with a health-related tax on sugar sweetened drinks to help reduce childhood obesity, according to a recent poll carried out for the Irish Heart Foundation by Ipsos MRBI.
07 October 2013
Doctors Call For 20% Fizzy Drinks Tax
The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) has called for a 20% tax on sugary drinks in order to stem the country's growing obesity problem. The RCPI Policy Group on Obesity is urging the Minister for Finance to introduce the tax in the 2014 Budget.
13 November 2012
Report Due On Possible 'Sugar Tax' In Upcoming Budget
Soft drinks could be hit with a "sugar tax" in the upcoming Budget; in an effort to raise revenue and curb obesity. According to the Irish Independent, a confidential report commissioned by Health Minister James Reilly recommends increasing the excise duty on fizzy drinks.
15 March 2016
'Massive Increase' In Energy Drink Sales
A new report has found a "massive increase" in the sale of so-called energy drinks, with some of the products containing up to 16 teaspoons of sugar.
04 April 2016
Urgent Action Needed To Tackle Rising Obesity - FG
Urgent action is needed to tackle Ireland's growing obesity problem, Fine Gael Senator Catherine Noone. Senator Noone said that a number of new measures are needed, including education for children in primary school; physical education as part of the curriculum; the introduction of a sugar-tax on soft drinks and measures such as 'no fry zones'.