Snack and Beverage Sources of Free Sugar in Canadian Preschool-aged Children

Abstract

This thesis investigated free sugar (FS) intake from snacks and beverages among young Canadian children and compared intake with World Health Organization recommendations that FS intake be limited to <5% of total energy (TE). In 267 non-breastfeeding children from 210 families, FS contributed 10.6 ± 6.9% TE (mean ± SD). In our sample, 30% of children consumed ≥5% TE from snack FS and 17% consumed ≥5% TE from beverage FS. Snacks and beverages accounted for 49 ± 30.9% of FS energy. Top snack sources of FS (% children, children’s %TE from FS) were bakery products (55%, 2.4%), candy and sweet condiments (21%, 3.0%), and sugar-containing beverages (SCB) (20%, 4.1%). Top SCB sources of FS (49%, 5.3%) were 100% fruit juice (22%, 4.6%) and flavoured milk (11%, 3.1%). Efforts should be made to reduce FS intake from these sources, particularly bakery products, candy and sweet condiments, and SCBs.