Experts advise that pre-school children should avoid beverages loaded with sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Children usually younger than five years old were previously recommended against drinking sweetened beverages.
Experts consulting for the government now advise that these individuals should avoid beverages flavored with sugar or non-sugar sweeteners.
Experts have stated that reducing the consumption of sugary beverages during early childhood helps children get used to consuming non-sweetened drinks.
However, for older kids, sweeteners "might assist in decreasing sugar consumption," according to the experts.
The UK government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also stated that young children should consume "food without added sweetness (neither from sugar nor non-sugar substitutes)."
To replace sugar, low or no-calorie sweeteners are employed to make certain foods and beverages sweeter.
These substances can be found in items like beverages, sweets, prepared dishes, and pastries.
The sweeteners authorized for use in the UK encompass acesulfame potassium, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, steviol glycosides, sucralose, and xylitol.
Some squash drinks, which are popular with children, contain sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame K.
Research data connects the intake of sugar with various health issues such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Due to their capacity for providing sweetness sans calories, both artificial and natural sweeteners have been suggested as aids in preventing individuals from gaining excess weight or becoming obese.
However, global health authorities at the World Health Organization stated in 2023 that individuals should refrain from using NSS as a method for managing their weight.
The most recent SACN update addresses this report.
The experts on the committee, who provide guidance to the government regarding nutrition and associated health issues, stated that certain pieces of evidence evaluated by the World Health Organization concerning sweeteners and weight management should be approached with skepticism.
The evidence connecting NSS to non-communicable illnesses was described as "alarming" yet should still be approached with "caution," according to the report.
The evidence regarding the effect of NSS on tooth decay is "weak," the committee noted additionally.
The SACN stated that they concur with the WHO, suggesting that decreasing free sugar intake along with "other favorable dietary modifications" is probably advantageous for general health.
The statement included: "Regarding the utilization of NSS for decreasing free sugar consumption, SACN determines that the evidence suggests these substitutes might offer some benefit in preventing weight gain over the short to medium term; however, they are not indispensable and do not represent the sole solution."
The committee expressed concern regarding the lack of information on the UK population's exposure to NSS.
It stated that "there isn't currently enough evidence to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the impact of NSS on health."
Nevertheless, the committee issued " precautionary" suggestions indicating that young children should avoid beverages flavored with sugar or non-sugar substitutes, and should only be provided with unsweetened foods.
However, the team of specialists indicates that for older children "substituting sugars with non-sugar sweeteners might aid in decreasing sugar consumption from food and beverages (thus reducing overall calorie intake) over the short term—the ultimate aim being to restrict both sugar and non-sugar sweetener intake."
Regarding the recommendations, Naveed Sattar, who is a professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, commented, "This is a very well-balanced statement."
SACN has acknowledged that the highest-quality evidence available, such as randomized trials, indicates that non-sugar sweeteners reduce body weight slightly when compared to consuming sugary beverages. Additionally, they have determined that other forms of evidence suggesting potential harms associated with non-sugar sweeteners are not reliable.
I completely concur and prefer individuals opt for low-calorie beverages containing artificial sweeteners consistently over sugary drinks, considering the advantages for bodyweight management as well as oral health, and possibly other benefits.
“However, SACN also correctly points out that until we have more evidence in the future on benefits and safety of NSS, it would be best to limit the intake of all such sweetened (including NSS) drinks in early childhood so that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks, preferably water.”
Dr. Hilda Mulrooney, who reads lectures on nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, commented, "The recommendations have long advised that fruit drinks like squash are not ideal choices for young children; instead, milk or water would be much better alternatives."
Sweetened squash isn’t advised because of its high sugar content; however, even when sweetened with non-sugar substitutes, it still boosts children’s preference for sweetness, making it difficult to address.
Professor Robin May, the Chief Scientific Adviser at the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA), stated, 'We welcome SACN’s guidance on non-sugar sweetener intake and their recommendation for additional studies.'
We firmly endorse SACN’s appeal to the industry to disclose publicly the amount of these sweeteners present in their products, thereby offering clearer insights into consumer intake levels and aiding us in evaluating these components more effectively.