Five firms cut sugar in juices by 20%, others swap for lactose

• Dr. Shaimaa Al-Asfour, the Deputy Director General of the Saudi Food and Nutrition Authority, said that work is currently underway to amend the school canteen food regulations issued in 2021 to align with Kuwait’s vision and keep pace with global developments.

The Saudi Food and Nutrition Authority has launched a week-long awareness campaign to highlight the risks of added sugar, raise public awareness, and encourage manufacturers to improve product ingredients and reduce sugar content. The authority also announced that five companies have reduced sugar levels in juices by up to twenty percent, while others have replaced added sugar with lactose sugar, according to Al Rai newspaper.

Dr. Shaimaa Al-Asfour, the Deputy Director General of the Saudi Food and Nutrition Authority, explained during a press conference at the authority’s headquarters that the announcement of the campaign’s launch is part of the authority’s participation in the global initiative World Action on Salt & Health – World Action on Sugar.

“The celebration of Diabetes Awareness Week includes a series of events, including an awareness event at the authority’s headquarters and educational events in accredited nutrition-friendly schools to raise students’ awareness about the importance of reducing sugar consumption,” Al-Asfour said.

She pointed out that a seminar was held for companies that succeeded in reducing sugar levels in their products, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce, to present them as incentive models. An awareness ceremony will also be organized for the public at the Promenade complex next Thursday.

Al-Asfour noted the authority’s collaboration with manufacturers to develop food products with lower sugar content, which contributes to improving community health and preventing diseases associated with excessive sugar consumption.

She congratulated local companies that have succeeded in reducing sugar levels in their products and called on all food manufacturers to commit to further reducing sugar in their offerings. She stressed that protecting public health is a shared responsibility that begins with raising individual awareness and extends to ensuring the private sector plays an active role.

She also clarified that free sugars refer to sugars added to foods or drinks by manufacturers, chefs, or consumers, in addition to natural sugars found in honey, syrups, juices, and drinks. Overconsumption of these sugars can lead to an increase in calories with low nutritional value, negatively impacting overall health, especially among children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that free sugars make up less than ten percent of an individual’s total daily energy intake, and preferably less than five percent for additional health benefits.

She noted that studies show sugar consumption in many Middle Eastern countries ranges from nine to 15 percent of total energy, which increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and tooth decay, one of the most common health problems among children.

She added that “the authority plays a pivotal role in protecting community health by formulating food policies and standards in accordance with Gulf and international specifications, raising public awareness of the risks of added sugar, and emphasizing the importance of reducing its consumption through field visits to schools and educational workshops for students.”

She explained that work is currently underway to amend the school canteen food regulations issued in 2021 to align with Kuwait’s vision and keep pace with global developments.

Nutritional monitoring program

Nawal Al-Ghasaf, the head of the Preventive Nutrition and Micronutrients Department and the head of the School Canteens Program, confirmed that the aim of the event is to provide low-sugar foods in schools. She emphasized the authority’s role in raising awareness among students, starting from the fifth grade, about the importance of reading product labels and understanding their ingredients, including how to calculate sugar content.

Al-Ghasaf also explained that the nutritional monitoring program, approved by the Ministry of Health, specifically in the School Health Department, aims to assess malnutrition.