Health experts in the UK are advising that young children should not be given drinks containing artificial sweeteners, according to new guidelines issued by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
These recommendations apply to popular sugar-free beverages, including “toothkind” squashes, which often contain ingredients such as aspartame, stevia, saccharin, and sucralose. SACN encourages parents and caregivers to introduce preschool-aged children to water as the primary beverage instead, establishing healthy habits early on.
What Are Artificial Sweeteners?
Artificial sweeteners are ingredients used to add sweetness to foods and drinks without the calories of sugar. While they are widely used as alternatives to sugar, especially in efforts to reduce calorie intake, their long-term effects on taste preference and health remain under investigation.
In the UK, all sweeteners used in food products are approved for safety and have undergone extensive testing. However, there are concerns that regular exposure to artificial sweeteners may encourage a stronger preference for sweet flavors in children, which can be difficult to reverse as they grow older.
Are Sweeteners a Healthier Choice?
SACN’s latest review of current research finds that evidence supporting the role of sweeteners in reducing tooth decay is limited. While reducing sugar intake is clearly linked to better health outcomes, using sweeteners isn’t the only or most effective method.
The committee acknowledges that sweeteners may help with short- to medium-term weight control, especially for older children or adults trying to manage calorie intake. Still, it emphasizes that sweeteners are not essential, and improvements in diet quality can be achieved through other strategies.
Call for More Data and Transparency
A major concern for SACN is the lack of detailed data about how much of these sweeteners the UK population is actually consuming. The committee is urging manufacturers to disclose the quantity of sweeteners in their products more transparently, enabling better monitoring and research.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fighting obesity, noting ongoing efforts to limit child-focused junk food marketing on television and digital platforms.
Expert Opinions
Prof. Robin May, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency, supports SACN’s recommendation for more transparency from the food industry, saying it would help experts better assess the potential health impact of sweeteners.
Prof. Graham Finlayson, a psychobiology expert at the University of Leeds, also commented, stating that while caution is appropriate, the current evidence doesn’t warrant completely avoiding non-sugar sweeteners. He cautioned that reactionary changes in policy could potentially backfire, especially in the midst of growing obesity and diabetes rates.
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) responded by reiterating that low- or no-calorie sweeteners can be part of a healthy, balanced diet. The association echoed SACN’s call for continued investment in robust, long-term studies to better understand the role of sweeteners in public health.
Conclusion
While artificial sweeteners are generally considered safe and may offer benefits for reducing sugar intake in older children and adults, health experts in the UK now recommend avoiding them for younger children. Water should be the go-to drink for preschoolers, helping them develop healthy lifelong habits. As research continues, transparency from manufacturers and ongoing monitoring will be key to ensuring both safety and informed dietary choices for families across the country.
