Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S A : Today’s number is about… sugar

The journal Nutrients recently published the results of the Spanish Nutrition Foundation's (FEN) ANIBES study, which determined the origin of the sugar consumed in Spain, El País reports.

The study collected data throughout 2013 from a sample of 2,009 people between the age of nine and 75. It concludes that Spaniards consume an average of 71.5 grams of sugar per day (17% of caloric intake), 38.3 grams of intrinsic sugar (9.6% of caloric intake) and 28.8 grams of free sugar per day (7.3% of caloric intake).

As the publication notes, intrinsic sugar is sugar that is naturally present in food, such as fruit, vegetables and milk (if there is no added sugar). WHO does not set a recommended amount of intrinsic sugar as there is no evidence that it is unhealthy.

These are the ten foods in which Spaniards consume the most added sugar, according to ANIBES:

1. Sugary soft drinks (22.5% of total free sugar).
2. Table sugar (17.8%).
3. Pastries (15.2%).
4. Chocolate (11.4%).
5. Yogurt and fermented milks (6.44%).
6. Other dairy products (5.99%).
7. Jelly and similar products (3.58%).
8. Juice and nectar (2.91%).
9. Breakfast cereals and cereal bars (2.78%).
10. Other candy and sweets (1.30%).