Page 11 - Baking Europe Journal - Winter 2022

INGREDIENTS
SUGAR REPLACEMENT 11

SUGAR

REPLACEMENT

options in baked goods

Written by:

Dr Ndidi Ihekwaba Dr Terri Grassby
University of Surrey, UK University of Surrey, UK

xcess intake of calories, Why is sugar replacement needed programme, the food industry was
specifically sugar (sucrose), – policy drivers, health drivers? recommended to adopt three
contributes to the poor health Over the last few decades, there has pathways to reduce calories:
of the global population. This been a general trend of reducing the
excess intake contributes to weight amount of sugar present in food 1. Change products recipe.
gain, poor dietary intake and increased products. Most soft drink 2. Reduce portion size.
risk of non-communicable diseases. manufacturers have managed to 3. Encourage consumers to purchase
produce lower-sugar versions of their lower-calorie products.
Treating obesity and its leading products by combining sugar
consequences costs the NHS £6.1bn with high-intensity sweeteners to Food sources covered by the policy
every year and Europe €81bn every maintain mouthfeel and sweetness • The calorie reduction programme
year (Cuschieri and Mamo, 2016; whilst aiming to avoid or minimise affects 19% of foods eaten by
Tedstone et al., 2018). Successful the sugar levy being applied. In children and adults.
reduction in calorie intake could foods, the bulk functionality of • The sugar reduction programme
reduce the cost and time spent on sugar is harder to replace than covers 25% of calorie sources for
these health issues, allowing health sweetness because considerably children.
professionals to concentrate on other less high-intensity sweetener is • The drinks levy covers 5% of
health problems and improving needed to achieve the required calories which come from drinks.
quality of life for the general public. sweetness level.
Overall, a significant portion of food
A significant portion of calorie intake In 2018, the UK government set out a sources are covered by the UK
comes from baked goods and as a calorie reduction plan for the food government’s policy.
result, therefore, a reduction in the industry in the policy document
calorie density of this type of “Calorie reduction: The scope and In 2022, the World Health
foodstuff may reduce overall calorie ambition for action”. In this document, Organisation (WHO) announced that
intake for the population at large. as with the sugar reduction it will launch a calorie reduction

BAKINGEUROPE Winter 2022/2023
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