Councils urging drinks manufacturers to cut 'unacceptable' levels of sugar from their products

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that while some firms were showing willing to reduce sugar, others were 'dragging their heels'

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that while some firms were showing willing to reduce sugar, others were “dragging their heels”. (Getty Images)

Councils have urged drinks manufacturers to go “further and faster” in cutting sugar from their products, criticising what they called “unacceptable” levels in drinks not usually bracketed as unhealthy, such as ginger beer and fruit juice.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said that while some firms were showing willing to reduce sugar, others were “dragging their heels”.

They pointed out that an average 330ml can of Old Jamaica Ginger Beer contains 12 teaspoons of sugar – double the daily limit recommended by the World Health Organisation.

Ocean Spray ‘Cranberry Classic’ juice drink, meanwhile, was found to contain 11 grams of sugar per 100ml.

Councillor Lizzie Seccombe, chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “It is wholly unacceptable for one normal-sized can of soft drink to contain 12 teaspoons of sugar…Products like these are fuelling the obesity crisis and helping wean a generation of overweight children.”

Gavin Partington, director general of the British Soft Drinks Association, said the industry in the UK had done “more than any other sector to promote calorie reduction”.