Public Health England (PHE) has released an app which allows users to scan barcodes on food and drinks to see how much sugar they contain.
The ‘Change4Life Sugar Smart’ app, part of a campaign by Change4Life, allows users to scan the barcodes on food and drink products and shows how much sugar there is in the product, both in grams and sugar cubes.
It is hoped this app can be utilised to fight against obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay, helping families feel encouraged to follow a healthier diet, as well as raising awareness about the amount of sugar in food and drink products.
A diet high in sugar could result in serious health problems later on in life, such as a higher risk of some cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It can also result in weight gain and tooth decay.
Young children are having three times more sugar than the current recommended limit, according to PHE, who also revealed children aged four to ten years consume an average of 22kg a year of added sugar.
“Children are having too much sugar – three times the maximum recommended amount. This can lead to painful tooth decay, weight gain and obesity, which can also affect children’s well-being as they are more likely to be bullied, have low self-esteem and miss school,” said Dr Alison Tedstone, PHE chief nutritionist.
