Food, for soft drinks -10% sugars and new bans on commercials and sale to children

“Reduction of the caloric supply, abstention from direct selling of sugary drinks even in high schools, abstention from advertising and marketing for the under 13. These are the commitments undertaken with the new Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health and the Italian Association among the non-alcoholic beverage industry (Assobibe), which I signed in these hours “. This was declared by the Undersecretary for Health, Andrea Costa, delegated by Minister Roberto Speranza to the discussion and signing of documents relating to hygiene and safety of food for human nutrition, recalls a note from the ministry. “The reduction in the caloric supply – explains Costa – will be obtained with a further 10% cut of sugar released for consumption (for the period 2020-2022)”, while “the abstention from direct sales by producers of sugared versions will be extended in high school, as well as in primary schools. Finally, the age threshold on which to avoid promotions and marketing in channels aimed at children will be raised from 12 to 13 “.” The document – underlines the undersecretary – aims to start a collaboration aimed at improving knowledge on the characteristics of soft drinks, strengthening the commitments to improve the offer to consumers and the nutritional impact, promoting useful initiatives towards specific targets and places such as young people and schools. This collaboration will also involve the identification of a training course suitable for a conscious consumption of this type of beverage, nutritional impact, as well as correct lifestyles , illustrating the importance of the energy balance “.