A summer full of hidden dangers
Vienna (OTS) – A classic summer day in Austria: a quick breakfast before the outdoor pool, a picnic with dessert and an evening barbecue – that sounds like a perfect plan. But Foodwatch e. V. warns: the food industry uses exactly such days to outwit us with hidden sugar bombs. According to their latest investigation, the drinks of a typical summer day exceed the World Health Organization (WHO)'s sugar recommendations many times over.
Hidden sugar bombs in everyday life
Most people have no idea that the cappuccino and the orange juice at breakfast, the iced tea at the outdoor pool and the lemon soda at the barbecue in the evening together provide almost 120 grams of free sugars. For comparison: the WHO recommends a maximum of 50 grams of sugar per day. Miriam Maurer from Foodwatch Austria explains: "The sugar content of drinks is often underestimated – especially because they are consumed on the side and are often not taken into account in one's personal nutritional balance."
Global measures against the sugar deluge
More than 50 countries have already responded with taxes on sugary drinks. An impressive example is the United Kingdom: after the introduction of the sugar tax in 2018, the sugar content in drinks fell drastically. Children consumed over 50 percent less sugar from soft drinks within one year. But in Austria there are so far no such measures, even though 59 percent of Austrians name sweet drinks as their favorite summer refreshment.
The supermarket as a labyrinth
In summer many people reach for processed foods, but the differences in nutritional quality are enormous. One third of Austrians cannot properly assess nutrition labels on packaging. One possible savior in this dilemma would be the Nutri-Score. This simple color scale rates how balanced or unbalanced a food is. Yet the Nutri-Score is still not legally anchored in Austria.
'Consumers want to make healthier choices, but politicians leave them in the dark. The Nutri-Score would finally bring transparency,' Maurer criticizes.
Healthy eating: An expensive pleasure?
Particularly alarming is the price difference between healthy and less healthy foods. Foodwatch has found that a more balanced summer day is 22 percent more expensive than an unbalanced one. An artificially sweetened strawberry ice cream is cheaper than real strawberries, which highlights the absurdity of the food system.
- Introduction of a 'Kracherl' tax on sweet drinks
- Legal basis for the Nutri-Score in Austria
- Zero percent VAT on fruit and vegetables
The nutritional traps in summer make it clear: what is needed is a food policy that protects people's health instead of the profits of the food industry.
A glimpse into the future
What does all this mean for the future? Without drastic measures, sugar and calorie consumption will continue to rise, which could lead to an increase in diet-related diseases in the long term. Healthcare costs would explode, and many people's quality of life could suffer significantly.
A fictional expert quote from Dr. Andrea Möller, nutrition scientist, might read: "If we do not act soon, the next generation will have to contend with the health consequences of our negligence today."
Conclusion: The pressure is mounting
Foodwatch's demands are clear: bold food policy is needed to protect consumers and minimize the influence of the food industry. Until then, it is up to consumers to inform themselves as best they can and make conscious decisions.
Summer 2025 could be the turning point when Austria begins to rethink its food policy. Until then, one can only hope that other countries lead by example and inspire Austria to act.
