If you have a sweet tooth, this new study might be a hard one to bite.
A new study conducted by Public Health Canada and the University of Waterloo surveyed over 40,000 pre-packaged food products. They found that nearly two-thirds, or 66%, contained added sugar.
“We expected product categories like candy to have added sugar, but what surprised us were things like yoghurt and snack bars, things that people think of as healthy alternatives”, the study’s lead author, David Hammond, expressed. Hammond is also a professor in the School of Public Health at the University.
The study also found that almost half of baby foods contain added sugar, about four sugar cubes worth. Hammond recognizes it’s difficult to know what products are good, and which are bad.
“It’s really hard for consumers to identify right now because they use so many different words and terms in the ingredients list.”
“Sugar” is covered under many different alias’, such as glucose, fructose, high fructose corn syrup, and dextrose.
He does have some advice for anyone who wants to cut back on their sugar and caloric intake.
“Try and stay to the outside of the grocery store where you get your fresh foods. Try and make as much of your food at home from scratch.”
Hammond says preparing fresh, healthy food for children is especially important, since obesity and other health problems are on the rise.
He hopes this study acts as a wakeup call for consumers, and manufacturers.
