I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 to 189, inclusive, together.
The World Health Organisation recommends that the total energy intake from free sugars should be less than 5%. In Ireland sugar-sweetened drinks alone contribute 5% of the total energy intake in the diet of children. In high consumers, this can be as much as 13-14% of the energy intake.
In order to help halt and prevent obesity, last September
on behalf of the Government, Minister Harris and I launched The Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025. This Policy sets a short-term target for a sustained downward trend in levels of excess weight in children and a reduction in the gap in obesity levels between the highest and lowest socio-economic groups by 10%.
The launch of the Healthy Food For Life programme in December was one of the early actions achieved in the Obesity Action Plan. My Department uses the Food Pyramid as our nutrition education tool and this programme particularly addresses foods and drinks on the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. Sugar sweetened drinks are included with other foods high in fat, sugar and salt on the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. The key message is that these foods and drinks are not needed for good health and we advise having smaller portion sizes and not having these everyday - only a maximum of once or twice a week. The Healthy Food For Life programme has a suite of 23 resources to facilitate adults and children over 5 years make healthy food choices.
The European soft drinks sector has committed to reduce added sugars by a further 10% thereby tripling the pace of sugar reduction by 2020. The commitment will be rolled out across Europe. This initiative responds to changing consumer preferences regarding sugar and calorie intake and calls from the European Commission for a coordinated approach to reformulation and sugar reduction across the food industry.
The commitment supports the EU Roadmap for Action on Food Product Improvement and the Annex on Voluntary Reduction of Added Sugars with its 10% sugar reduction target agreed between Member States and the European Commission. Ireland is playing a lead role in the EU discussions on the reduction of added sugars in sugar-sweetened drinks.
The industry will achieve its target through increasing its efforts on reformulation and new product innovation - including by using low and no calorie sweeteners - and increasing the availability of smaller pack sizes to allow portion control and moderation. In addition, soft drinks producers will invest in the promotion of beverages with reduced or no sugar to actively encourage consumer choice towards low and no calorie products. Independent third party research will monitor progress, which will be shared with stakeholders.
My Department is requesting that the industry broaden and deepen their efforts on reformulation, now, as time is of the essence in the fight against childhood obesity. A National Reformulation Technical Working Group to agree Irish targets for reducing fat, sugar and salt is being established and will publish a roadmap for action at the end of the year. Once targets are agreed, the industry will be invited to engage fully with the process.
