"Measures to cut sugar intake should apply across industry, say participants at dialogue session
SINGAPORE: Proposed regulations to cut sugar intake in Singapore should be extended across the industry and not just on pre-packaged sweetened drinks, said most participants at a public consultation session on Saturday (Jan 19).
This is to level the playing field, as well as to encourage more to offer a wider range of healthier options.
Saturday’s discussion was one of more than 10 such sessions that have been organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) since it proposed four measureslast month to curb sugar intake.
These include banning and taxing some pre-packaged sweetened drinks, tightening advertising regulations and implementing a mandatory nutrition label on such products.
Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, highlighted the seriousness of the problem, even as Singapore ramps up its fight against diabetes.
“Right now, Singapore has fluoridation in our water. But more than 50 per cent of our pre-schooling children suffer from dental cavities. This indicates that we have a major problem in our society around what we are feeding our children,” he said."
Many of the issuea n solutions mooted were covered in the Citizens' Jury for WarOnDiabetes in late 2017 n concluded in early 2018 with the MoH responding formally in April 2018.
This is not surprising as wise people think alike.
Key takeaways r:
1. this group has the "skin-in-the-game" sweetened drinks manufacturers represented who had a slightly different point to make - that they only contributed 50% of the high sugar intakes of Sgp consumers! So? need to monitor n control sugar level in the other 50% by processed foods industry too. Valid point to look at;
2. the assertion that tobacco tax had not reduced smoking rate by 1 of the industry players who used to b fr that industry is to b validated. Is it true overall smokers had dropped though certain group of smokers see am increase?;
3. ultimately, the consumers will decide if the suppliers should produce more or less sugared drinks, n foods. That will rely on a multi-channel n sustained approach of: education, self-awareness n determination by each consumer, reducing/eliminating negative behaviours while increasing rewards for positive behaviours.
May we ALL win against Diabetes!!
SINGAPORE: Proposed regulations to cut sugar intake in Singapore should be extended across the industry and not just on pre-packaged sweetened drinks, said most participants at a public consultation session on Saturday (Jan 19).
This is to level the playing field, as well as to encourage more to offer a wider range of healthier options.
Saturday’s discussion was one of more than 10 such sessions that have been organised by the Ministry of Health (MOH) since it proposed four measureslast month to curb sugar intake.
These include banning and taxing some pre-packaged sweetened drinks, tightening advertising regulations and implementing a mandatory nutrition label on such products.
Professor Teo Yik Ying, dean at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, highlighted the seriousness of the problem, even as Singapore ramps up its fight against diabetes.
“Right now, Singapore has fluoridation in our water. But more than 50 per cent of our pre-schooling children suffer from dental cavities. This indicates that we have a major problem in our society around what we are feeding our children,” he said."
Many of the issuea n solutions mooted were covered in the Citizens' Jury for WarOnDiabetes in late 2017 n concluded in early 2018 with the MoH responding formally in April 2018.
This is not surprising as wise people think alike.
Key takeaways r:
1. this group has the "skin-in-the-game" sweetened drinks manufacturers represented who had a slightly different point to make - that they only contributed 50% of the high sugar intakes of Sgp consumers! So? need to monitor n control sugar level in the other 50% by processed foods industry too. Valid point to look at;
2. the assertion that tobacco tax had not reduced smoking rate by 1 of the industry players who used to b fr that industry is to b validated. Is it true overall smokers had dropped though certain group of smokers see am increase?;
3. ultimately, the consumers will decide if the suppliers should produce more or less sugared drinks, n foods. That will rely on a multi-channel n sustained approach of: education, self-awareness n determination by each consumer, reducing/eliminating negative behaviours while increasing rewards for positive behaviours.
May we ALL win against Diabetes!!
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