“WHO’s current recommendation, from 2002, is that sugars should make up less than 10 percent of total energy intake per day. The new draft guideline also proposes that sugars should be less than 10 percent of total energy intake per day. It further suggests that a reduction to below 5 percent of total energy intake per day would have additional benefits,” the WHO said on its website.
Five percent of total energy intake is equivalent to around 25 grams (around 6 teaspoons) of sugar per day for an adult of normal Body Mass Index (BMI), it said.
Limiting the consumption of sugars is to reduce public health problems like obesity and dental caries, the WHO notes.
WHO said it will accept comments on the draft guideline from the public via its website until March 31, before finalizing the sugars guideline.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com