Sugar consumption within the UK is affecting biodiversity by means of an rising reliance on pesticides, campaigners have mentioned.

Motion on Sugar says the UK is dealing with rising ‘sugar air pollution’ in a brand new report, referring to the affect of manufacturing, importing and consuming an excessive amount of sugar.

The charity argues that insurance policies on sugar concentrate on decreasing excessive sugar consumption – however fail to handle the oversupply of sugar.

The present UK provide is equal to over two-and-a-half occasions the quantity wanted to fulfill the inhabitants’s most beneficial consumption, it provides.

Key messages

Different key messages from the report embody:

• Extreme consumption of sugar is a significant reason behind diet-related unwell well being
• The home manufacturing of sugar beet – which supplies the UK with over half its sugar provide – is decimating UK topsoil, a non-renewable useful resource, and damaging biodiversity by means of the usage of neonicotinoids
• Demand-side insurance policies focusing on sugar consumption have proved largely unsuccessful in assembly their targets
• The UK authorities ought to take pressing motion to make sure that sugar provide drops by almost two thirds, according to the protected consumption suggestions of the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Diet.

Lengthy-term well being points

Hattie Burt is senior coverage and worldwide tasks officer at Motion on Sugar. She mentioned: ‘With one in three kids leaving faculty over a wholesome weight and tooth decay nonetheless the main purpose kids are hospitalised within the UK, there’s an pressing have to make on a regular basis meals extra nutritious. That features decreasing sugar.

‘With out decisive motion now, the document ranges of individuals unable to work resulting from long-term well being points will solely worsen because the foods and drinks trade continues to push gross sales of sugary merchandise.

‘Nonetheless, decreasing sugar consumption will stay an uphill battle till the federal government tackles sugar at its supply. [We need] commerce and agricultural insurance policies that search to cut back, not enhance sugar provide, in order that producers are incentivised to cut back their use of this dangerous commodity.’

You can read the full report here.

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