Fat chance: Dutch food industry lax on reducing sugar, salt and fats, says watchdog 

Photo: Despositphotos.com

The substantial food industry in the Netherlands is not doing enough to reduce sugar, salt and fats content, public health watchdog the RIVM warned on Friday.

The RIVM said the sugar content in practically every sort of food has largely remained unchanged over the past five years, reported ANP.

The agency added that this has occurred despite an agreement in 2014 between the health ministry and food producers to lower content of sugar, salt and fats.

But the RIVM report issued on Thursday did reveal that the salt content of bread had been reduced by 19% since 2011. Certain types of sauces, soups, vegetables and pulses in tins or glass jars as well as crisps had lower salt content, ranging from 12% and 26% compared with five years ago.

Dutch sugar consumption equates to an average of 30 sugar cubes a day, or 44 kilos a year. Sugar consumption by children is even higher.

Food watchdog Foodwatch told ANP on Thursday that 1,200 people are diagnosed with diabetes every week, more than four million people take drugs to reduce blood pressure and another million are on cholesterol medication.

 

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