Food industry continues to exploit regulatory loopholes - BANT
BANT is concerned that the food industry is taking advantage of regulatory loopholes to reformulate their products, especially using glycemic Maltodextrin.
We are delighted that Tom Watson, MP is calling for a consultation on how to better approach the growing obesity and Type 2 Diabetes crisis and BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) will actively participate in any actions that will improve our nation’s health. BANT and its over 2,500 members are saddened but not surprised that Britain has ranked 3rd in the European obesity rankings.
Public Health England’s (PHE) Sugar Reduction Progress Report shows a 2% reduction in free sugars but bizarrely no reduction in calories from those same free sugars. BANT is concerned that the food industry is taking advantage of regulatory loopholes to reformulate their products, especially using glycemic Maltodextrin.
According to Diabetes UK, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has more than doubled since 1996. The same source states that here are now over 600 UK children diagnosed with this chronic disease that was formerly known as ‘Adult Onset Diabetes’. Type 2 Diabetics are expected to shorten their life expectancy by an average of 10 year from linked chronic diseases. Furthermore, only recently a survey by the OECD stated that 30% of the British child population would be obese by 2030. It is not difficult to imagine the cost burden to the NHS in relation to treating lifestyle diseases, and heartache at personal level.
In June this year, BANT launched a petition calling for glycemic Maltodextrin to be included within the Sugar Tax legislation. Glycemic Maltodextrin is not classified as a sugar, so shows as ZERO grams of sugar on a food label, yet it can act like a free sugar in the body. It has a huge glycemic hit spiking blood sugar and insulin enormously. It is prolific in our food as a fat substitute, thickening agent or filler, and is an ingredient in things like desserts, sauces, salad dressings, processed foods, coffees, teas, powdered soft drinks, and sports drinks.
BANT continues its clarion call for Government Agencies and politicians from every political divide, to promote the consumption of healthy ingredients and unprocessed foods, disassociating political and commercial interests from our public health agenda.
Help BANT get glycemic Maltodextrin included within the Sugar Tax legislation to protect our nation's health by signing this petition
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