Sugar in Foods

On average, we are eating more than twice the sugar* than guidelines recommend.

Government Consumption Guidelines

No more than 5% of our energy should come from Sugar

World Health Organisation, 2015

The World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) recommendation on sugar intake is based on sugar as a proportion of all energy (kcal or kj). The guideline maximum proportion of energy taken on from all sugars (intrinsic and added) is: 5% and a strong recommendation of an absolute maximum of 10%

The energy value of a gram of Sugar is 3.8 kcal.1 (p.93)

Recommended maximum sugar intake for age: 1-2mo and sex:female is
10% x 2175 / 3.8 = 28.62g of Sugar per day
7.2 cubes .

and the Absolute maximum is 57.2g of Sugar per day.

NHS, May 2015

"Added sugars shouldn’t make up more than 10% of the energy (calorie intake) you get from food and drink each day. This is about 70g for men and 50g for women, but it varies, depending on: your size, your age and how active you are."

SACN, Carbohydrates and Health, July 2015

"Free sugars shouldn’t make up more than 5% of the energy (calorie intake) you get from food and drink each day. Carbohydrates & Health, SACN 2015

Current Levels of Consumption

12-15% of our energy actually comes from Sugar

Courtesy of the BBC:

Sugar consumption data, via BBC


On average, we are eating more than twice the sugar than the W.H.O. & SACN guidelines recommend.

*includes naturally occurring sugars and added sugars
** All information is based on external, referenced sources. inFood provides no advice on food, medical or nutritional matters.

Principal Sources

  1. The 2011 report by the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on Dietary Reference Values for Energy, available here
  2. The World Health Organisation Guideline for sugar intake in adults and children 2015. available here
  3. NHS Recommendations on Sugar Intake

Other Sources