University News Last updated 16 September 2014
New advice from health experts state that people should get no more than 3 per cent of their daily calories from sugars; down from the recommended 10 per cent.
Recent research has highlighted that sugar is the most important factor in the development of tooth decay, a 'costly burden' which health expert claim is a 'largely preventable disease'.
A nutrition expert from Birmingham City University has spoken out stating that such a drastic change in diet and lifestyle is unlikely to happen so quickly.
"Although many large food companies have pledged to reduce the amount of sugar in their products, this does not happen overnight and we still consume too much processed food and drink to be able to achieve the new recommended sugar allowance," says Mel Wakeman, Senior Lecturer in Applied Physiology at Birmingham City University.
"I agree we need to cut our sugar intake but many will struggle to reach a 5 per cent target, never mind 3 per cent. It is unrealistic at the moment to ask the population to have negligible sugar in their diet but the public do need help to reduce sugar intake from current levels."