2024-10-31 17:47:00
In a supermarket in Septèmes-les-Vallons (Bouches-du-Rhône), in November 2022. CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP
While in France, the debate on the taxation of sugar in processed products is relaunched in the National Assembly, during the examination of the social security financing bill, a study published Thursday October 31 in Science could give food for thought to the deputies and ministers of the Barnier government, who have displayed divergent opinions on the principle of a new tax and should debate it in the Hemicycle on Monday, November 4.
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This study, carried out by American researchers from the Universities of Southern California, Chicago and Berkeley, aims to better understand the impact of sugar consumption on the risk of developing chronic diseases, notably diabetes and hypertension. To characterize this link, researchers turned to contemporary history, studying a period when populations experienced a radical change in eating behavior: the lifting of rationing in the United Kingdom in the 1950s.
After the war, most foodstuffs were rationed. Restrictions were gradually lifted in the first half of the 1950s. Those on sugar – these limited free sugar intake to less than 40 grams (g) for adults, 15 g for children, and no sugar for infants , roughly the current recommendations of most public health agencies – were removed in September 1953. Almost immediately, sales of sugar doubled in the first year, while for other derationed foods the levels consumption remained relatively stable – the only exception being the return to butter consumption after years of substitution by margarine.
Short time frame
However, notes the study published in Sciencethis sudden increase in sugar consumption among the British in 1953 could have had long-term consequences on their health. The researchers relied on data from the UK Biobank, a vast medical database, which tracks some 500,000 volunteers. Among them, just over 60,000 people were identified as being born between October 1951 and March 1956, a thousand days before the lifting of sugar rationing and a thousand days after.
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The researchers thus defined a first group of individuals who were “rationed” in utero and during their very first months of life, and a second group who was more exposed to sugar consumption, general data available on the Kingdom -United suggesting a doubling of consumption. This short period of time was chosen by formulating the hypothesis that these two groups of individuals were exposed to a relatively similar food environment, with constant prices, and that exposure to sugar constitutes the main differentiating variable.
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**Interview with Dr. Isabelle Durand, Nutrition Expert**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Dr. Durand, and thank you for joining us today. The topic of sugar consumption has been in the spotlight recently, especially with the new study from American researchers discussing its effects on chronic diseases. What can you tell us about the findings of this study?
**Dr. Durand:** Thank you for having me. The study published in *Science* reveals significant insights into the historical context of sugar consumption and its correlation with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. By examining the post-war changes in diet in the UK, the researchers highlighted how the lifting of sugar rationing drastically increased sugar intake, which corresponds with rising health issues in the population.
**Interviewer:** That’s quite intriguing. Given this context, how does excessive sugar consumption lead to health problems?
**Dr. Durand:** When people consume too much added sugar, it can lead to elevated blood pressure and promote chronic inflammation—two pathways that significantly contribute to heart disease and other metabolic disorders. The study underscores the importance of monitoring sugar intake as part of preventive health measures.
**Interviewer:** France is currently debating a potential tax on sugary products. What do you think about this approach?
**Dr. Durand:** A tax on sugary products could effectively reduce consumption, much like tobacco taxes have done for smoking. By making these products more expensive, we could potentially encourage people to make healthier choices, which could help alleviate some of the public health burdens linked to high sugar consumption. It’s a complex issue, though, as it involves not only health considerations but also economic and social factors.
**Interviewer:** What advice would you give to individuals regarding their sugar intake?
**Dr. Durand:** I’d recommend being mindful of added sugars in processed foods. Reading labels and choosing whole foods—fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—can help manage your sugar intake. It’s about creating a balanced diet that supports overall well-being.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Durand, for your insights on this important issue. We appreciate your time!
**Dr. Durand:** Thank you for having me! It’s always a pleasure to discuss nutrition and public health.
