Less salt in frozen pizzas, less sugar in children's muesli: In order to counteract "fattening", the federal government wants to persuade manufacturers to make voluntary changes. Has something happened yet?
Berlin (dpa) - Does iced tea really have to be so sweet? And the curd for children too? For a healthier diet, finished products should get by with less sugar, fat and salt. But how do you do that?
Federal Food Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) has won several industries for voluntary commitments - and these voluntary commitments are having an effect, according to initial data, made it clear. However, there is still a need for action, especially with products especially for children. The reductions and the whole procedure are not enough for consumer advocates and medical professionals.
Manufacturers commit to changing ingredients
Klöckner emphasized: "It is going in the right direction." It is positive that in many cases the total number of calories in the products also decreases if sugar is reduced. The background is a "reduction strategy" adopted by the cabinet at the end of 2018. It stipulates that manufacturers will commit to gradually changing ingredients by 2025.
Mostly it's about less sugar. In breakfast cereals for children, a drop of at least 20 percent should be achieved, in sweetened children's milk products and in soft drinks of 15 percent. Recipes should be gradually changed over to avoid abrupt changes in the usual taste for customers.
There is reason to take countermeasures: In Germany, 47 percent of women, 62 percent of men and 15 percent of children are considered overweight. Too much sugar, fat and salt also increase your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In order to check the industry commitments, the federally owned Max Rubner Institute (MRI) conducted a first comparative investigation. The results are now available.
Sugar levels in yogurt decrease
The sugar content of yogurt preparations specially advertised for children has dropped by 7.4 percent since 2016. However, it is still higher than in products that are not advertised for children. "The economy has to make adjustments," said Klöckner. For curd cheese preparations "with children's optics" there was a sugar minus of almost 18 percent.
In the case of soft drinks, the institute determined a sugar reduction of 35 percent for products specifically for children compared to 2018. With regular sodas and colas, however, the minus was only "very small" at 0.2 grams per 100 milliliters.
In the case of frozen pizzas, where salt is the main focus, the range is generally wide - there is much more in a "pizza salami" than in a "margherita". Overall, however, "no statistically significant reduction in salinity was found between 2016 and 2019".
Criticism of the interim balance
Klöckner's interim report met with criticism. "A reduction in sugar from" much too much "to" much too much "is not a success, but rather a declaration of bankruptcy," complained the Foodwatch consumer organization. Green party politician Renate Künast said that voluntary commitments by the corporations are not sufficient in the fight against too sweet, salty and greasy convenience foods.
The AOK federal association's expert, Kai Kolpatzik, called for more effective and, above all, mandatory reduction targets that will not be implemented in five years. According to a study by the AOK, 73 percent of the amount of muesli or cornflakes purchased exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams. In the case of cereals specially designed for children, 99 percent of the products purchased were above it.
Ministry of the "National Reduction and Innovation Strategy"
Summary of the MRI survey
Detailed MRI survey
Ministry on the results of the survey