RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) — Brazil’s Health Ministry on Monday signed a deal to significantly reduce the sugar levels of industrialized food products.
According to the ministry, the government is committed to reducing the sugar levels of those products by 144,000 tons by 2022. A total of 68 companies and 1,147 products are included in the agreement.
The deal follows a decision to reduce the sodium levels of several food products in the country. The amount of sodium in industrialized foods in Brazil have been reduced by 17,000 tons over four years.
Brazilians consume an average 80 grams of sugar per day, which is 50 percent more than the amount recommended by the World Health Organization. The government hopes the move will result in the reduction of diabetes in the population.
“We will also advance in the matter of food labels, so that citizens can make more informed and conscious choices,” said Health Minister Gilberto Occhi.