Sugar, you shrunk the kids: Bouquet of diseases nestled within your child's nutritional drinks

Been a fan of “nutritional” drinks as a kid? There is an extremely high likelihood that every cup of milk you consumed was made with a pre-mix that was around 50 per cent sugar. You perhaps licked the yummy mug clean twice a day, maybe even with another spoon of sugar or two.

Experts say this habit has likely persisted or worsened in your adulthood, paving the way for the bitter moniker “diabetes capital of the world” for India.

The problem with the so-called nutritional drinks has come to the fore in recent weeks after the latest controversy regarding Nestle's Cerelac brought to light how brands have been using 'added sugar' to products that are meant for infants. However, denying the allegations, Nestle spokesperson told ET Online that the reduction of added sugars is a priority for the brand.

According to an ET Online analysis, some prominent health drinks contain nearly 40-45 grams of ‘total sugar’ (including added sugar) per 100 grams. These products suggest customers use almost 2 spoons per serving, which is around 20 grams in quantity. This, therefore, implies that children are being given more than the recommended amount of sugar on a day-to-day basis.

“There is a maximum recommended sugar intake per day by age group. For the kids of four to six years old, 19 gm (5 teaspoons) is recommended. For the children falling in the age group of seven-to-ten years, 24 gm (6 teaspoons) of sugar intake is recommended. For the kids falling in the age group of 11 years and above, 30 gm (7 teaspoons) is the recommended sugar intake,” explained Artemis Hospital’s Pediatrician Rajiv Chhabra.

How much sugar is too much?
As sweet as sugar is only a good compliment not a good lifestyle mantra!

With the abundance of sugary foods and beverages available and easily accessible, it's essential to understand the limits. Parents should adhere to specific guidelines and recommendations regarding their children's daily sugar intake.

The guidelines from the World Health Organization do not recommend sugar for infants, said Rajeswari V. Shetty, who heads Dietetics department at SL. Raheja Hospital-a Fortis Associate.

“The WHO recommends that adults and children reduce their daily intake of “free sugars” to less than 10 percent of their total energy intake. The term “free sugars” refers to all sugars added to food or drinks, as well as sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices,” she added.

In India, the country which is home to 101 million diabetics, the habit of consuming sugar from infancy is a rising concern that could have lasting repercussions for the nation’s youth in the coming decades.

From the moment infants are introduced to solid foods, they are often exposed to high levels of sugar, setting the stage for a potential health crisis in the future.

But where does this start from?
Remember how your parents, grandparents, guests used to give you chocolates, or treat you with ice-cream as a reward for your achievements? During early years of childhood, parents and caregivers often resort to sweetened foods and beverages to pacify or reward infants.

According to health experts, excessive sugar consumption in infancy can have detrimental effects on children’s health.

“Many health problems have been linked to the high consumption of sweetened beverages, such as caries and enamel erosion, short sleep duration, hyperactivity, increased blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. Regular consumption of SSBs may result in dental erosion. It can also lead to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and even depression. Cardiac problems are on the rise in children,” said Shetty.

Meanwhile, Motherhood Hospital’s Pediatrician Dr. Nishant Bansal explained that the high sugar intake over a period of time can also lead to Kidney failure. “When children consume large amounts of sugar, their kidneys must work harder to excrete the excess sugar from the body through urine. Over time, this increased workload can strain the kidneys and potentially lead to kidney damage or dysfunction, particularly in children who are already predisposed to kidney disease due to other factors such as genetic predisposition or underlying medical conditions,” said Bansal.

Moreover, these habits formed during childhood tend to persist into adulthood, raising concerns about the long-term impact of early sugar exposure on the health and well-being of future generations.

A devil wrapped in a colourful packaging
A colourful wrapping with a cartoon character or two and a freebie is enough to lure children into consuming sugary products.

Artificial colouring and artificial flavouring are also used sometimes to make these products more palatable.

This consumption is often compounded by the aggressive marketing tactics employed by brands to promote products containing added sugar for infants and young children.

From sweetened cereals to fruit-flavored drinks, these products often masquerade as nutritious options while hiding high levels of sugar behind appealing packaging and misleading health claims.

“Brands continue to market products high in sugar to children despite the known health risks as they know that most children are addicted to these products and parents cannot refuse their child’s demands for these products. Sugar itself is addictive, So once an infant or a toddler gets a taste of it, they want more and more of those kinds of products. Companies are thriving on it,” said Fortis’ Shetty.

The brands may have dropped the "health" label from these drinks and resorted to using sugar alternatives but is that enough?

A need for awareness
Despite growing awareness of the health risks associated with sugar consumption, many parents remain unaware of the hidden sugars lurking in everyday foods and the importance of establishing healthy eating habits from an early age.

Speaking on the issue, Dr. Sangeeta Tiwari, Artemis Lite NFC’s Clinical Nutritionist, said, “Individuals and communities in India can advocate for healthier food options and combat the prevalence of sugary products marketed towards children through a comprehensive approach.”

The approach may include measure like raising awareness about the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake, lobbying policy makers for stricter regulations on advertising unhealthy foods to children, supporting local initiatives to promote access to fresh, nutritious foods, advocating for nutritious meals in schools, engaging with food manufacturers to develop and promote healthier alternatives, and setting positive examples through personal dietary choices, she added.

“By collectively addressing these factors, people and communities can actively work towards fostering a healthier food environment for children in India,” said Dr. Tiwari.

Over the past few years, brands have also started reducing the use of 'added sugar'. The government authorities have also played an important role in initiating this change.

As a consequence of recent FSSAI action, which directed brands to stop promoting products with high sugar content under the "health drinks" category, several big brands have amended their norms.

Recently, HUL dropped the health label from Horlicks and rebranded it as a functional nutritional drink (FND). Mondelez, the parent brand of Cadbury, withdrew Bournvita from the same category.

Even Nestle clarified about reducing the sugar content. In a statement, it said, "Over the past 5 years, we have already reduced added sugars by up to 30%, depending on the variant. We regularly review our portfolio and continue to innovate and reformulate our products to further reduce the level of added sugars, without compromising on nutrition, quality, safety, and taste."