Abstract

Introduction: The 2020 Global Nutrition Report shows that adult obesity and diabetes are increasing in Nigeria. Nigeria is ‘off course’ to meet the Global Nutrition Targets for obesity and other diet-related NCDs. The inclusion of a strategic approach to develop and implement a national strategic plan for the reduction of sugar in packaged and processed foods is key in tackling obesity among adults in Nigeria. Excessive consumption of energy drinks is believed to be a major contributing factor to obesity rise in Nigeria. World Health Organization recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake, which translates to less than 50g for a 2,000kcal diet. In Nigeria, the pack size of energy drinks has increased substantially from 250ml to 500ml (indicating absence of pack size control). It is projected to increase to 750ml. This “supersizing” phenomenon is believed to be an important contributor to the increase in consumption of energy drinks. Larger (uncontrolled) pack sizes of energy drinks contain more added sugars and contribute more significantly to total dietary intake of sugar than smaller (controlled) pack sizes. Thus, controlling the pack size of energy drinks may be a highly effective sugar-intake reduction strategy. This study examines the effect of controlling pack size of energy drinks on total dietary intake of sugar in Nigeria.
Methodology: The level of sugar and pack size of energy drinks were systematically collected by this study from on-pack (nutrition) labels of (10) brands commonly available in the open markets and supermarkets in Nigeria and average daily energy drink consumption data from research studies. Assessments were done to evaluate dietary sugar intake and calculate risk associated with energy drink consumption using the recommended methods in the Codex Food Safety Risk Analysis Manual and FAO Dietary Risk-Pesticide Registration Toolkit and the WHO Population Sugar Intake Goals and Guidelines.
Result: The estimated intakes of added sugars from 500ml and 250ml packs of the energy drinks with an average sugar content of 10.27g per 100ml are 51.35g and 25.68g per day respectively. The estimated risks of exceeding the recommended maximum level of added sugars associated with 500ml and 250ml packs are 103% and 51% respectively. The estimated relative risk and risk reduction are 2 and 50% respectively. The estimated intakes of added sugars from 500ml and 250ml packs of the energy drinks with proposed maximum sugar content (benchmark) of 5g per 100ml are 25g and 12.5g per day respectively. The estimated risks of exceeding the recommended maximum level of added sugars associated with 500ml and 250ml packs when sugar content is benchmarked are 50% and 25% respectively. These results suggest that pack size, sugar content and sugar intake from energy drinks are positively associated. They also indicate that 500ml pack contributes more significantly to total dietary intake of added sugars than 250ml pack. They further suggest that benchmarking energy drink pack size at 250ml will likely contribute to a significant (50%) reduction in energy drink consumption and the risk of excessive sugar intake from energy drinks).
Conclusion and recommendation: This study concludes that sugar content and pack size control could contribute significantly to the reduction of sugar intake from energy drinks in Nigeria. It also concludes that the risk of obesity associated with excessive sugar intake from 500ml pack could be decreased if the sugar content and pack size of energy drinks are controlled. It recommends the establishment of maximum pack size and sugar content of energy drinks at 250ml and 5g per 100ml respectively.

Keywords:Dietary intake assessment; Added sugars; Energy drinks; WHO sugar guidelines; WHO African region nutrient profile model; National policy on food safety and quality.