In New Caledonia, diabetes, caused by excess sugar, is the first cause of long illness. And sugary or watered-down drinks are particularly in the crosshairs of health authorities. Explanations.
•
Published on June 14, 2022 at 7:10 p.m.
In 2013, the “Lurel” law highlighted the dizzying sugar levels of sodas sold overseas: up to 30% more than in mainland France. Although the text has never been extended to New Caledonia, the manufacturers claim to have since then pursued a policy of reducing the level of sugar in the products they manufacture.
“We depend on international recipes for international brands that we produce locally, explains Marie-Amélie Molia, from the GBNC. A certain number of them are already registered in this approach and it can sometimes go up to 50% reduction in the sugar level in the recipes. For local brands, the GBNC claims to have also adopted this approach, with sugar reductions of around 40 to 45%.
The company Le Froid, which is the producer in particular of Coca Cola, did not wish to answer us.
To be able to reduce the sugar level, many brands use substitutes. This is the case with “no added sugar” drinks which contain, for example, the sweeteners E950 (aspartame) and E951 (acesulfame).
However, these chemicals even if they do not increase the level of sugar in the blood, are dangerous for health. “Sweeteners are also sweetening products which will have the advantage of not raising blood sugar.explains Emilie Simonet, dietitian, but unfortunately these synthetic chemical substances will maintain sugar cravings and also open the appetite. So it pushes you to snack behind. “
Not only do these sweeteners whet the appetite and maintain a craving for sweets, but they also lead to an increased risk of cancer, according to Inserm. Drinking sugary drinks, or sodas, is therefore a dangerous habit for your health. “We have really big health problems right now, continues Emilie Simonet, with people who are becoming diabetic at an increasingly young age, because ultimately from an early age these drinks are offered to children when they don’t need it. Sodas aren’t juice, they’re just water with sugar, colorings and flavorings. And that’s a problem for later.”
For several years, politicians have been talking about introducing a tax on sugar. Unfortunately, this is wishful thinking for now. “All over the world, there is this famous tax on sugary drinks which will push consumers to consume less but above all manufacturers to review the formulation of products offered to the population, notes Doctor Dominique Megraoua, prevention doctor at the Health and Social Agency. LCaledonia has fallen behind a bit, we can imagine that it is part of the arsenal of laws that allow policies to improve the environment and the choices of Caledonians.”
The care of people suffering from diabetes represents for our social accounts, a cost of 10 billion per year. A more balanced diet, and more restrictive measures for manufacturers, could help reduce the RUAMM deficit.
The report by Brigitte Whaap and Claude Lindor: