Acceptance of sugar reduction in yoghurt among Moroccan population

Introduction: Morocco has recently developed a plan of reducing sugar consumption to reinforce prevention of non-communicable diseases and to contribute to the achievement of global voluntary targets for non-communicable diseases set by ICN2 by 2025. The objective of the present study was to assess acceptance of yogurts with different percentage reduction of sugar by the Moroccan population.Methods: a total of 201 participants (age > 15 y.) were recruited to determine the level of sugar reduction in yogurt. Sucrose was added to a plain yoghurt in the following different concentrations 166.5; 149.8; 133.2; 116.5; 99; 83.2 mM/l, corresponding to the reduction of sugar of 0%, -10%, -20%, -30%, -40% and -50%, respectively, compared available yogurt in local market. Overall, the acceptability scores of the different yoghurts were based on liking, "Just About Right" (JAR) and purchase intent scales was used to score the different yoghurts.Results: yogurts containing -20% and -30% added sugar were highly accepted by 81% and 74% of respondents. Based on JAR score, yoghurt with 20% (133.2mM/l) and 30% (116.5 mM/l) reduction were considered as "just about right" by 42.7% and 44.3% respectively. Best average score of purchase intent was obtained for sucrose concentration of 149.8 mM/l. 35.8% and 40.3% for yoghurt with sucrose concentration of 133.2 mM/l and 116.5 mM/l respectively.Conclusion: the finding from this study indicated that yogurts containing -20% and -30% added sugar were most accepted by respondents. Advocacy before dairy industry to have them commit towards sugar reduction in yogurt is needed, in order to help achieving the national sugar reduction strategy in Morocco

Added Sugar and Dietary Sodium Intake from Purchased Fast Food; Confectionery; Sweetened Beverages and Snacks among Sowetan Adolescents

Background. Greater availability and accessibility of fast foods; sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks in urban South Africa may be contributing to the burgeoning obesity epidemic in adolescents. Objectives. To determine the consumption of purchased foods and drinks among a cohort of urban adolescents; and to estimate the added sugar and dietary sodium intake from these foods and beverages.Methods. Participants (N=1 451; 49.6 male; mean 17.7 years of age) completed interviewer-assisted questionnaires on dietary intake practices pertaining to food choices in the home; school and community. The consumption of fast foods; sugar-sweetened beverages and snacks was determined and the average added sugar and sodium intakes were estimated.Results. The median (interquartile range) intake of fast foods was 11 (7 - 16) items/week in both sexes. Sweetened beverages were consumed 8 (5 - 11) and 10 (6 - 11) times/week by males and females; respectively (p0.02). Females consumed confectionery more often than males (13 (9 - 17) and 11 (8 - 15) items/week; respectively; p0.01). Seven (5 - 10) salty snack items/week were consumed by both sexes. Overall; mean added sugar intake from these purchased food items was estimated at 561.6 g/week for males and 485.3 g/week for females; respectively (p0.05). Conclusion. In this study; males and females consumed on average three times the recommended daily intake of added sugar; and more than half of the recommended daily salt intake from these purchased foods alone. These dietary patterns during adolescence may exacerbate the risk of obesity and hypertension in later adult life

Effect of Glucose Contents of Selected Soft Drinks on Plasma Glucose Level of Adolescent Healthy Nigerian Subjects

Soft drink is a carbonated water; flavoured and sweetened with either sugar or sweetener. The resulting glucose solution in the human body is the key source of energy. Positive associations between soft drinks consumption and incidence of diabetes have been postulated. Thus; it is the aim of this study to show the effects of casual soft drinks consumption on glucose level of healthy Nigerian individuals in fasting and 2 hours post-prandial. A total of 350 apparently healthy individuals were recruited for this study. 115 subjects (Group A) were given a bottle of Coca-Cola (Coke) each; another 115 (Group B) subjects were given a bottle of Bitter Lemon (Krest) each while the remaining 120 subjects (Group C) were given 75g of D-glucose in 300mL of distilled water. Glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed on all the subjects and the curve of glucose concentration plotted against time of sample collection. GTT graph of group A and B shows a flat curve of enhanced GTT while group C shows a normal GTT response graph. The result however; indicates that casual consumption of soft drinks did not predispose to development of diabetes as it has no significant effect on plasma glucose and renal threshold concentration of apparently healthy individuals