Reformulation without substitution as a strategy to reduce children’s free sugar intake in Uruguay: a simulation study

ENTORNO ALIMENTARIO

POLITICAS PUBLICAS

POLITICA ALIMENTARIA

REDUCCION DE AZUCAR

NUTRICION INFANTIL

INGESTA DE AZUCAR

BIBLIOGRAFIA NACIONAL QUIMICA

2026

Objective: Product reformulation is a promising strategy to address excessive free sugar consumption among children, yet mandatory programs remain rare across the globe. This study explores reformulation scenarios to reduce free sugar in processed foods without using nonsugar sweeteners in Uruguay, a high-income Latin American country. Methods: A two-stage approach was applied: 1) development of reformulation policy scenarios, and 2) simulation of their potential impact on children's free sugar intake. First, analysis of 2 national dietary surveys (24-h recalls) identified key product categories contributing to free sugar intake among children aged 6–59 mo and 4–13 y. A market database of processed and ultra-processed foods was then used to examine sugar content distribution. Second, the impact of each scenario was modelled by simulating changes in product sugar content within these categories and applying them to intake data. Results: Two policy options, inspired by sodium reduction strategies, were tested: maximum sugar levels and percentage reductions. Simulations indicated that percentage reductions would require reformulation of a larger proportion of products, resulting in greater decreases in average sugar content and higher effectiveness. Only this scenario yielded a statistically significant reduction in modelled free sugar and energy intake among children aged 6–59 mo. For both age groups, reductions approached 10%. Conclusion: Sugar reformulation can lead to meaningful public health gains in the Uruguayan context. However, post-reformulation sugar intake remained above recommendations, highlighting the need for complementary measures to further discourage excessive consumption.

Nutrition, v. 144, 2026. -- e113076

Elsevier

2026

Información sobre Derechos de Autor

(Por favor lea este aviso antes de abrir los documentos u objetos)

La legislación uruguaya protege el derecho de autor sobre toda creación literaria, científica o artística, tanto en lo que tiene que ver con sus derechos morales, como en lo referente a los derechos patrimoniales con sujeción a lo establecido por el derecho común y las siguientes leyes (LEY 9.739 DE 17 DE DICIEMBRE DE 1937 SOBRE PROPIEDAD LITERARIA Y ARTISTICA CON LAS MODIFICACIONES INTRODUCIDAS POR LA LEY DE DERECHO DE AUTOR Y DERECHOS CONEXOS No. 17.616 DE 10 DE ENERO DE 2003, LEY 17.805 DE 26 DE AGOSTO DE 2004, LEY 18.046 DE 24 DE OCTUBRE DE 2006 LEY 18.046 DE 24 DE OCTUBRE DE 2006)

ADVERTENCIA - La consulta de este documento queda condicionada a la aceptación de las siguientes condiciones de uso: Este documento es únicamente para usos privados enmarcados en actividades de investigación y docencia. No se autoriza su reproducción con fines de lucro. Esta reserva de derechos afecta tanto los datos del documento como a sus contenidos. En la utilización o cita de partes debe indicarse el nombre de la persona autora

PDF

9 p.

Inglés

Artículo

10.1016/j.nut.2025.113076

PDF