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  • Page | Last updated: 08 Apr 2021

Overview of sugars intake across European countries

Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway

Overview of sugars intake across European countries

Intakes represent total intake from all sources, except where otherwise stated. Reported intake is based on publicly available data compiled by Prof. I. Elmadfa and Dr. Alexa Meyer (University of Vienna), unless referenced otherwise. Data may not be comparable due to differences in methodology, year of study, age groups involved, and measurement taken.

 

Total sugars intake (E%± SD)

Belgium - Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 (2x24h recall & Food Frequency Questionnaire)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males, Females
3-5 27.5
6-9 25.5
10-13 23.9
14-17 22.7
18-39 20.2
40-64 18.8
Denmark a- Danskernes kostvaner 2011-2013 (7d food record)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
4-5 9 ± 3.7 9 ± 4.0
6-9 11 ± 4.6 10 ±  4.4
10-13 12 ± 4.6 11 ± 4.8
14-17 11 ± 5.4

11 ± 5.2
18-24 10 ± 6.5 11 ± 6.9
25-34 10 ± 5.7 9 ± 4.8
35-44 9 ± 5.7 9 ± 5.3
45-54 7 ± 4.9 8 ± 5.0
55-64 7 ± 4.7 7 ± 3.6
65-75 8 ± 4.9 8 ± 4.1
Ireland b - National Adult Nutrition Survey 2008-2010 (4d weighed food record)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
18-35 15.8 ± 5.4 17.7 ± 5.8
36-50 15.5 ± 5.9 16.9 ± 5.1
51-64 15.9 ± 6.0 18.3 ± 6.0
≥65 16.5 ± 6.8 19.1 ± 5.1
Spain c (Ruiz et al., 2017) - ANIBAS survey 2013 (3d record)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
9-12 9.9±4.1 9.6±3.8
13-17 9.6±4.6 10.8±4.2
18-64 7.0±4.8 7.3±4.5
65-75 4.8±3.1 5.4±3.7
France d - Etude individuelle Nationale sur les Consommations Alimentaires (INCA) III 2014-2015 (24 h recall)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
0-11 months 37.9±2.7  
1-3 30.3±4.0  
4-6 26.7±5.5  
7-10 24.2±5.3  
11-17 21±4.8 21.5±5.3
18-44 19.7±5.6  
45-64 17.8±5.9  
65-79 18.4±6.7  
     
Italy e - INRAN-SCAI 2005-2006 (3d food record)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
3-9.9 17.0 ± 5.0
10-17.9 15.4 ± 4.7 15.8 ± 5.2
18-64.9 13.5 ± 4.7 15.4 ± 5.1
≥65 13.3 ± 5.0 16.1 ± 5.4
Hungary a - National Dietary Survey by the Hungarian Food Safety Office (HFSO) 2009 (3 d food record)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
19-30 8.4 ± 5.1 8.9 ± 4.4
31-60 6.6 ± 4.2 8.1 ± 4.2
>60 6.4 ± 3.7 8.0 ± 4.2
Austria - Austrian Study on Nutritional Status (ASNS) 2012 (2x24h recall)
Age group (years) Mono/Disaccharides Sucrose
Males Females Males Females
7-9 21.8 ± 6.2 22.8 ± 5.6 11.6 ± 4.7 11.4 ± 3.3
10-12 21.2 ± 5.7 20.2 ± 5.9 10.4 ± 3.8 10.6 ± 5.0
13-14 20.6 ± 5.9 19.4 ± 5.9 10.0 ± 3.8 10.6 ± 4.0
18-24 19.0 ± 6.7 20.3 ± 6.2 9.7 ± 4.1 9.1 ± 3.8
25-50 19.3 ± 7.2 20.1 ± 6.7 10.1 ± 5.1 10.1 ± 4.5
51-64 15.6 ± 7.0 20.3 ± 6.5 7.6 ± 4.8 10.4 ± 3.7
65-80 16.7 ± 6.2 17.9 ± 6.7 8.0 ± 4.0 8.8 ± 4.3
Finland - National FINDIET 2012 Survey 2012 (48h recall)
Age groups Sucrose
Males Females
25-64 9.2 ± 5.4 10.0 ± 5.5
65-74 8.9 ± 4.9 9.4± 4.9
Portugal f - National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity survey (IAN-AF) 2015-2016 (2x24h recall)
Age groups Mono/Disaccharides
Males, Females
<10 27.1
10-17 19.8
18-64 17.3
56-84 17.2
Sweden a - Riksmaten adults 2010-2011 (4d food record)
Age groups Mono/Disaccharides Sucrose
Males Females Males Females
18-30 9.8 ± 5.1 12.0 ± 4.9 7.6 ± 4.5 9.7 ± 4.1
31-44 9.5 ± 4.4 9.8 ± 5.0 7.1 ± 3.5 8.1 ± 3.8
45-64 9.1 ± 4.4 8.7 ± 4.2 7.1 ± 3.5 7.4 ± 3.5
65-80 9.2 ± 4.2 9.5 ± 4.4 7.1 ± 3.1 8.1 ± 3.4
UK g - National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008-2010 (4d food record)
Age groups Mono/Disaccharides
Males Females
4-10 14.4 ± 5.2e 14.7 ± 4.8
11-18 15.4 ± 5.9 14.9 ± 6.3
19-64 11.9 ± 6.0 11.3 ± 6.3

≥65

 11.2 ± 6.0 10.9 ± 4.9
Norway a - Norkost 3 2010-2011 (2x24h recall)
Age groups Mono/Disaccharides
  Males Females
18-29 9.2 ± 6.9 9.3 ± 6.5
30-39 7.2 ± 6.0 8.2 ± 5.6
40-49 7.7 ± 6.0 6.6 ± 4.4
50-59 6.3 ± 5.1 6.8 ± 4.9
60-70 6.3 ± 4.4 6.5 ± 4.2

a added sugars, b non-milk total sugars, c free sugars, d simple sugars from sweetened foods, no SD given, e soluble carbohydrates, f simple sugars, food used for diaries for children<10 yr, g non-milk extrinsic sugars