South Africa’s Heart and Stroke Foundation (HSFSA) has joined a global push to curb excessive sugar consumption as World Sugar Awareness Week runs from 17 to 23 November, Cape {town} Etc reports.
This year’s campaign, driven internationally by World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (WASSH), highlights how hidden sugars and misleading marketing continue to shape unhealthy eating habits.
Under the theme “Cut Through the Sweet Talk: What You See Isn’t What You Eat,” the initiative encourages consumers to look beyond glossy labels and question whether food products are as healthy as they claim. The foundation says the campaign is also a reminder of the need for stronger national regulations to enforce accurate labelling and responsible advertising, particularly to protect children.
New global findings from WASSH show that nine out of ten children and four out of five adults consume more sugar than recommended. Sugary drinks remain the biggest contributor. Research cited by the foundation indicates that drinking one sugary beverage a day raises the risk of being overweight by 27% in adults and 55% in children. Regular intake also increases the likelihood of diabetes by at least 24% and the chances of dying from heart-related causes by 29%.
Local data paints an equally concerning picture. The 2023 National Food and Nutrition Security Survey reports that 57.4% of adults in South Africa are overweight or obese, with the rate soaring to nearly 68% among women. Childhood obesity is rising too: the proportion of overweight children under five has grown from 13% in 2016 to 22.6% in 2023, and more than 31% of girls aged 15 to 19 are now overweight or obese.
HSFSA screenings reflect similar trends, with more than 2 000 out of 4 510 people tested showing impaired glucose levels and nearly 600 diagnosed with diabetes. The organisation warns that high sugar intake can trigger a cycle that leads to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and serious heart problems.
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“Diabetes is one of the key risk factors for heart disease and strokes, and it is strongly associated with heart failure,” says HSFSA CEO Prof Pamela Naidoo.
The foundation also stresses the difference between natural sugars — found in whole foods like fruit, vegetables and dairy — and free sugars added during processing. The World Health Organization recommends that free sugars make up less than 10% of daily energy intake, ideally below 5%, which amounts to about six teaspoons per day for men and older teens, and five teaspoons for women and younger children.
Consumers are urged to check labels closely, as sugar often appears under names such as sucrose, honey, corn syrup and fruit juice concentrate. Foods containing more than 15g of sugar per 100g are classified as high in sugar. The foundation notes that honey, often viewed as a healthier option, is still a concentrated sugar that can have similar effects if consumed excessively.
The HSFSA recommends practical steps such as reducing sugar added to drinks, swapping sugary snacks for fruit, choosing water over soft drinks and opting for low-sugar condiments. Many popular sauces contain up to 70% sugar.
To support healthier choices, the foundation has released the Sugar Chart Booklet in partnership with Pharma Dynamics. The guide outlines the effects of excessive sugar, offers tips for reducing intake and includes visual charts to help identify hidden sugars in everyday products. The booklet is available on the HSFSA website.
The organisation is also calling for stronger national policies, including a higher sugar tax, increased nutrition education and subsidies to make healthy food more affordable. These measures, it says, are essential to reducing diet-related diseases and ensuring equitable access to nutritious food.
“Creating a healthier South Africa starts with transparency — in our food labels, our marketing, and our policies,” says Naidoo. “By cutting through the sweet talk, we can empower South Africans to make informed choices that protect their health and the health of future generations.”
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