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 exploits exactly these kinds of days to fool 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 evening barbecue together provide almost 120 grams of free sugars. By 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 frequently underestimated — especially because they are consumed casually and often not taken into account in one's personal nutrition tally."
Global measures against the flood of sugar
Over 50 countries have already reacted 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 dropped drastically. Children consumed over 50 percent less sugar from soft drinks within a year. But in Austria there have so far been 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. A possible savior in this dilemma would be the Nutri-Score. This simple color scale evaluates how balanced or unbalanced a food is. But in Austria the Nutri-Score is still not legally enshrined.
"Consumers want to make healthier choices, but politicians are leaving them in the dark. The Nutri-Score would finally create transparency," Maurer criticizes.
Healthy eating: an expensive indulgence?
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 soda tax on sweet drinks
- Legal basis for the Nutri-Score in Austria
- Zero percent VAT on fruit and vegetables
The nutritional traps of summer make it clear: there is a need for food policy that protects people's health rather than the profits of the food industry.
A look into the future
What does all this mean for the future? Without drastic measures, sugar and calorie consumption will continue to rise, which could in the long term lead to an increase in diet-related diseases. Health care costs would explode, and many people's quality of life could suffer significantly.
A fictitious expert quote from Dr. Andrea Möller, nutrition scientist, could read: "If we don't 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 as possible and make conscious choices.
Summer 2025 could be the turning point when Austria begins to rethink its food policy. Until then, let's hope that more countries lead by example and inspire Austria to act.
