Two glasses of some wines contain more than the recommended daily limit of sugar and more calories than a hamburger.
However, alcohol is exempt from food and drink labeling rules, so consumers are mostly unaware of calorie and sugar loads.
Health experts are pushing for clear nutritional labeling on alcoholic products to help reduce sugar and alcohol consumption. The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), representing over 60 health organizations, recently commissioned an independent laboratory to test 30 bottles of red, rose, white, sparkling, and fruit wines sold in the United Kingdom for sugar content.
The resulting analysis, which appears on the AHA’s website, revealed a “wide variation of sugar and calories between products.”
The report noted that two glasses of some wines can exceed the daily recommended sugar amount, but most alcohol labels do not share this information.
Although having two glasses of wine may seem innocuous, experts say some leading brands contain more sugar than recommended. Peter Meade/Getty Images
Two glasses of some wines contain more than the recommended daily limit of sugar and more calories than a hamburger.
However, alcohol is exempt from food and drink labeling rules, so consumers are mostly unaware of calorie and sugar loads.
Health experts are pushing for clear nutritional labeling on alcoholic products to help reduce sugar and alcohol consumption.
The Alcohol Health Alliance UK (AHA), representing over 60 health organizations, recently commissioned an independent laboratory to test 30 bottles of red, rose, white, sparkling, and fruit wines sold in the United Kingdom for sugar content.
The resulting analysis, which appears on the AHA’s website, revealed a wide variation of sugar and calories between products.
The report noted that two glasses of some wines can exceed the daily recommended sugar amount, but most alcohol labels do not share this information.
Suppressing such details may lead consumers to imbibe extra calories and sugar unknowingly, health experts warn.
Why different labeling guidelines?
Foods and nonalcoholic beverages are subject to stringent nutritional labeling standards. These rules make calorie and sugar information readily available to consumers.
Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, chair of the AHA, calls the exception with alcohol.
This information is not required when it comes to alcohol — a product not just fueling obesity but with widespread health harms and linked to seven types of cancer.
Alison Douglas, Chief Executive of Alcohol Focus Scotland, product labeling on alcoholic beverages is woefully inadequate, when alcohol claims 70 lives a day in the U.K.
Medical News Today asked Holly Gabriel, nutrition manager at Action on Sugar in the U.K., about this labeling dilemma. Gabriel contributed to the AHA report.
The lack of labeling and lack of awareness about sugar content of alcoholic drinks, there is less scrutiny for manufacturers. In the U.K., we have a soft drinks industry levy that completely excludes alcoholic drinks and alcohol replacements such as alcoholized wine. It is impossible for consumers to make an informed choice when they don’t have the full nutrition information on ingredients.
Study contributor Gemma policy and public affairs manager at Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS), also told MNT:
Unlike food and nonalcoholic drinks, alcoholic drinks are only required to display the volume and strength (in ABV) and common allergens. Information on nutritional values — including calories and sugar content — ingredients, or health warnings is not required and is therefore largely absent from labels. Instead, the U.K. government relies on voluntary action from the alcohol industry.
Free sugars can add up
Modern diets typically contain foods and drinks with sugars. Sugars are split into three main groups:
Naturally occurring sugars added sugars trusted source that are added during cooking, processing or eating — they include table sugar, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, maple syrup, honey, and agave free sugars trusted source include all added sugars plus naturally occurring sugars, including those released by juicing fruits and vegetables.
Too much sugar can contribute to tooth decay, weight gain, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and increased cancer risk factors.
U.K. government guidelines suggest that adults consume no more than 30 grams (g) of free sugars a day. This is equivalent to roughly 2.3 tablespoons.
The American Heart Association trusted source recommends daily added sugar limits of 36 g for men and 25 g for women.
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