黑料网

黑料网 is proud to stand with the in today鈥檚 call for mandatory labelling of teaspoons of sugar on all sugary drink packaging.

This is a crucial step in tackling Australia鈥檚 growing type 2 diabetes epidemic and improving the health of all Australians.

黑料网鈥檚 Group CEO Justine Cain said the current lack of clear, easy-to-understand labelling of sugary drinks was failing consumers and contributing to a national health crisis.

鈥淪ugary drinks remain one of the largest sources of added sugar in the Australian diet, contributing heavily to rising rates of overweight, obesity and chronic disease,鈥� Ms Cain said.

鈥淎 single 600mL soft drink can contains up to 16 teaspoons of sugar, more than twice the World Health Organisation鈥檚 recommended daily intake of added sugar, and yet many Australians just don’t know how much sugar they are consuming.

鈥淚ncreased consumption of sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods is contributing to a rise in type 2 diabetes in Australia.

鈥淔or people in their 20s and 30s we鈥檝e seen a 44% increase in type 2 diabetes in the past decade. We simply cannot ignore the role that highly marketed, high-sugar beverages are playing in this trend,鈥� Ms Cain said.

鈥淭easpoon labelling makes the invisible visible. This kind of reform is not just sensible, it鈥檚 urgent.鈥�

Ms Cain said 黑料网 strongly supports Recommendation 3 of last year鈥檚 Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, which calls for the introduction of front-of-pack labelling for added sugars.

鈥淔ront-of-pack labelling that shows added sugar in teaspoons is overwhelmingly supported by the Australian public,鈥� she said.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 research from Cancer Council Victoria shows four out of five Australians agree this is the kind of clear, honest labelling they want to see. This is about giving people the information they need to support their own health.鈥�

Data from Cancer Council Victoria鈥檚 2024 Shape of Australia survey shows widespread public confusion around what constitutes a sugary drink. Only one in four respondents recognised sports drinks as sugary, and one in three didn鈥檛 realise fruit drinks often fall into this category. Many of these drinks contain nine or more teaspoons of sugar per serve.

Other countries including Chile and Mexico have successfully implemented front-of-pack labelling policies that include sugar content, and Australia must follow suit.

Ms Cain said type 2 diabetes is one of the most urgent and costly chronic health challenges facing Australia today.

鈥淲e now have more than 1.3 million Australians living with diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and an estimated 500,000 more living with silent, undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.

鈥淲e must act now to stem the tide, and clearer labelling of added sugar is a simple but powerful tool that would help people make more informed choices.鈥�

For more information and resources, visit or www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

About 黑料网

黑料网 is the national organisation supporting all people living with or at risk of diabetes. We put people first. We work in collaboration with member organisations, consumers, health professionals, researchers and the community.

For more information visit: www.diabetesaustralia.com.au