Main sources of added sugar in Argentina

The high consumption of added sugars in the diet of the Argentine population and its consequent effect on health are current concerns both at the clinical and public health levels. The objective of this study was to determine the main sources of added sugars in the Argentine diet and the proportional energy contribution of each of them. The sample consisted of 1266 individuals, representative of the country's urban population from 15 to 65 years old, stratified by region, age, gender and socio-economic level. Two 24-hour dietary recalls and one socio-economic questionnaire were carried out. Among the total food and beverages consumed by Argentines, 26.9% of added sugars were provided by soft drinks and 23.8% by infusions. The third place, with 15.4%, came from baked goods (bread, cookies, etc.) and the fourth, with 12%, from ready-to-prepare juices, ahead of sweets and candies and dairy products. Men, compared to women, consumed significantly more added sugars in soft drinks (32.6 vs. 22.1%), while women consumed more added sugars in infusions (25.5 vs. 21.8%), baked goods, sugar and honey. The lower income population consumed significantly more sugar in infusions at the expense of "mate" (21.4 vs. 7 g/day), while no differences were observed in the consumption of soft drinks by socio-economic level (32.9 vs. 34.4 g/day). Urgent measures based on education could improve the consumption habits of added sugars and the health of the population.