Experts tell how much sugar Ukrainians consume per year
1 September 19:30
Before the full-scale invasion, the average annual sugar consumption per Ukrainian was almost 28 kg. This was stated by Yana Kavushevska, head of the Ukrtsukor Association, in an interview with the "Komersant Ukrainian" YouTube channel.
“We have data until 2022. So, by 2022, when measurements were taken within special focus groups, this figure was 27.5 kg,” she said.
Kavushevska noted that domestic sugar consumption has decreased since the start of the full-scale war.
“In recent years, we have been consuming 900 thousand tons as a country. Until 2022, it was about 1.2-1.3 million tons,” she said.
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Trends in sugar consumption in Ukraine and the world
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an adult is recommended to consume no more than 25-30 grams of free sugars per day, which is about 6 teaspoons. Exceeding this limit increases the risk of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
In Ukraine, sugar consumption has traditionally been higher than European levels. According to the State Statistics Service, in the 2000s, the average Ukrainian consumed more than 40 kg of sugar per year. Subsequently, the figures gradually declined, in part due to the rise in price of the product and the popularization of a healthier diet.
The global trend is also on the decline: in many EU countries, the average annual sugar consumption is 30-33 kg per person, and in the United States it is about 34 kg. At the same time, the food industry is increasingly looking for substitutes, from stevia to artificial sweeteners, and some governments are introducing “sugar taxes” on sugary drinks.
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