Health: Sugar Consumption

Baroness Masham of Ilton Excerpts

Wednesday 6th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My noble friend makes a good point, but in healthy children exercise is very important as a preventive measure for obesity and diabetes. The central point he makes is absolutely right. We look to healthcare workers, not only health visitors but also midwives, through programmes such as the Healthy Child programme and Start for Life, to get families and children off to the right start, so that they eat properly and live healthy lifestyles.

[Baroness Masham of Ilton]

My Lords, does the Minister think sweeteners are a good substitute for sugar or do they have side effects?

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, we are clear that artificial sweeteners are safe if taken as intended. That is the advice of the European Food Safety Authority and we take that advice. However, encouraging people to take low-diet fizzy drinks, for example, in preference to sugary drinks is problematic because all fizzy drinks have an adverse effect on tooth enamel. We need to be balanced in our messages but we think that artificial sweeteners have a role in a proper calorie-controlled diet.