Sinn Féin : European Commission's Dangerous Proposals for Sugar in Baby Food Must be Stopped

19 January, 2016 - by Lynn Boylan MEP

Sinn Fein MEP Lynn Boylan has called on fellow Irish MEPs to support a resolution tomorrow in a vote which could block dangerous plans to allow high-sugar foods for babies on to the market.

'I strongly urge other MEPS to support this important resolution. It is shocking that the European Commission, as a supposed upholder of public health in Europe has proposed to allow such food products to be sold on the market.

'The Commission wants cereal-based baby foods for infants as young as 6 months to be allowed to derive 30% of their energy from sugar. Given that the World Health Organisation strongly recommends limiting intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, and that a further reduction to less than 5% of total energy intake is recommended for additional health benefits it is totally unacceptable that the Commission is proposing to allow a level three times that.

'Already in Ireland 1 in 4 of our children are obese and now we have dangerous proposals like this from the Commission that will only exacerbate the problem. Sweeter foods lead to a taste for sugar and not to mention their impact on developing teeth and tooth decay.

Following the shocking statistics in the recent RTE documentary Sugarcrash which exposed Ireland as the fourth highest consumer of sugar in the world it is absolutely essential all Irish MEPs oppose plans to allow very high-sugar foods for babies on the market.' ENDS

'Ireland is already on course to become the most obese country in Europe by 2030. Unless we take actions to prevent such products on the market childhood obesity will likely increase at a worrying rate.'