Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology and Nutrition-SIPCAN, Salzburg, Austria.
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Eur J Public Health. 2018 Oct 1;28(5):961-967. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cky039.
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a major source of free sugar intake and contribute to obesity and obesity-related diseases. Therefore, we analyzed the effect of a gradual sugar reduction strategy within the so-called 'beverage checklist' on free sugar content in beverages on sale in Austria.
From 2010 until 2017, data on the amount of free sugar of sweetened beverages (sweetened with sugars, fruit juice and artificial sweeteners) with 0.20-0.75l serving sizes in all main supermarkets and from industry was collected. These data were published annually as the beverage checklist, which displays beverages on sale in Austria. The checklist aims to encourage beverage production with a free sugar content of ≤7.4 g/100 ml and no artificial sweeteners.
Free sugar content in the total supply decreased significantly [7.53 (2.86) vs. 6.75 (2.79) g/100 ml; 10.4%; P < 0.001] over time and also in those for which follow-up data were available until 2017 (n = 100) [7.55 (2.46) vs. 7.28 (2.44) g/100 ml; 3.5%; P < 0.001]. The percentage of beverages fulfilling the guiding criteria increased by 12.8% (P < 0.001) and of those containing sweeteners decreased by 13.3% (after 2012; P = 0.034).
This public health strategy, conducted by a small non-profit organization, showed a reduction in the mean free sugar content by working with the industry to voluntarily reformulate beverages. More beverages with less added sugar were brought to the market, which implies healthier choices. The challenge now is to further engage the industry and also policy makers to achieve a greater reduction in the future.
含糖饮料（SSB）是游离糖摄入量的主要来源，会导致肥胖和肥胖相关疾病。因此，我们分析了在所谓的“饮料清单”中实施逐步减糖策略对奥地利销售的饮料中游离糖含量的影响。
2010 年至 2017 年，我们收集了所有主要超市中 0.20-0.75L 装含糖饮料（用糖、果汁和人工甜味剂加糖）以及工业数据，这些数据每年作为饮料清单公布，该清单显示了在奥地利销售的饮料。该清单旨在鼓励生产游离糖含量≤7.4g/100ml 且不含人工甜味剂的饮料。
随着时间的推移，总供应量中的游离糖含量显著下降[7.53（2.86）vs.6.75（2.79）g/100ml；10.4%；P<0.001]，且在 2017 年之前有可用随访数据的那些饮料中也显著下降[7.55（2.46）vs.7.28（2.44）g/100ml；3.5%；P<0.001]。符合指导标准的饮料比例增加了 12.8%（P<0.001），含有甜味剂的饮料比例下降了 13.3%（2012 年后；P=0.034）。
这项由小型非营利组织实施的公共卫生策略，通过与行业合作自愿对饮料进行配方改革，显示出游离糖含量的平均值有所降低。更多添加糖较少的饮料推向市场，这意味着有更健康的选择。现在的挑战是进一步让行业和决策者参与进来，以实现未来更大的减糖。
