World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF International) has launched the policy brief "Curbing global sugar consumption: Effective food policy actions to promote healthy diets and tackle obesity", to coincide with the World Health Assembly’s 68th session.

The brief provides a guide to available policies that can assist countries in reducing the amount of sugar consumed at a population level to meet the World Health Organization’s new sugar guideline, which was published in March.

It outlines effective, feasible policy actions that are available to governments to reduce the availability and affordability of sugar and sugary products, influence the acceptability of alternatives and raise awareness of the amount of sugar contained in products.

WCRF International provides examples of actions taken in seven countries that have had these effects and include the experience of experts involved in developing and implementing them. WCRF International also investigate the sugar supply chain and identify a number of questions to provide a starting point for dialogue and research about upstream actions that can be taken to reduce the supply and demand for sugar, taking into consideration the economic impact of such actions.

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