Sweet ignorance

YOUR leader article (“Sweet and sour note over warnings”, 28 May) made some important points regarding the current obesity debate. In particular, your position that having a balanced and varied diet is the best way to lead a healthy lifestyle is important to highlight.

The latest scientific evidence points to a combination of both an over-consumption of calories and our increasingly sedentary lifestyles as the key causes behind the obesity problem. We agree that it is misleading to single out an individual ingredient such as sugar when obesity is such a highly complex issue.

Our research among Scottish consumers supports this, with 58 per cent of adults not meeting basic physical activity guidelines recommended by the NHS, while 72 per cent fail to monitor their daily calorie intake.

We all have a role to play in tackling obesity. This starts with empowering consumers by providing accurate nutritional information about food and drink.

Richard Pike

Managing director

British Sugar

London