- For the first time, the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended a daily sugar limit for kids aged 2–18.
- Children under two should consume ZERO added sugars, according to the new guidelines.
- Will this affect their partnerships with brands like Subway and Jamba Juice?
Kids aged 2–18 should not consume more than SIX teaspoons of sugar, says the American Heart Association.
In a statement released this week, the AHA advised that children should drink no more than eight ounces of sugary drinks per week (that’s less than one cup). The new recommendations also say that children under the age of two should have ZERO added sugars.
This comes after the AHA recommended that adults consumed no more than six to nine teaspoons of sugar (in line with the World Health Organization and our guidelines). The influential non-profit also recognises that added sugar is a major risk factor for heart disease.
The new guidelines aren’t perfect, however. We would like to see the AHA take it even further, and follow the WHO’s recommendations of just THREE teaspoons for children aged 2-8. Also, the AHA does not consider juice an added sugar (you can read about the negative effects of liquefied fruit here). And don’t even get us started on the AHA’s recommendations of margarine over butter!
Still, we’re mighty chuffed to see the AHA continue to fight sugar consumption – especially because their sponsors include Big Food honchos like Subway and Jamba Juice. Something tells us they’re not going to like these new guidelines… watch this space!
What do you think of the AHA’s new recommendations?
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