Walk into any food store or supermarket and you would see a huge selection of sugar-laden food and drinks lining the shelves. From cream buns and confection, cakes and kuih to jam, kaya, ice cream, chocolate, cordials, juices, beverages and a whole range of carbonated drinks, we Malaysians consume too much sugar. And since our children eat what we buy, they too consume too much sugar.

According to Facts about Sugar in Portal MyHealth[1], Malaysians consume an average of seven teaspoons of sugar a day. This includes four teaspoons of table sugar (16.74 grams) and three teaspoons of sweetened condensed milk (19.13 grams) added into beverages.

This is not inclusive of the lifestyle drinks[2] that youths and young families like to indulge in. They include the various bubble milk and fruit teas with pearls which has eight teaspoons of sugar (33.33 grams) in every 500ml cup[3], and social media-promoted hipster street drinks like Milo Ais Kepal which comprises one cup of Milo powder and cocoa powder beaten together with half a tin of condensed milk topped with chocolate rice, crushed Oreos and nuts. A 390ml can of condensed milk alone, contains 211 grams of sugar.

Other drinks that children love are fruit juices, yoghurt drinks, soft drinks and carbonated sodas. A 320ml can of carbonated soda contains more than eight teaspoons of sugar (34.6 grams).

WHO Recommended Sugar Intake

The World Health Organisation[4] and the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines suggest a total daily intake of no more than 50 grams of sugar per day for adults.

For children, the maximum recommended intake of free sugar (comprising naturally-occurring sugar such as in honey and syrup, as well as added sugar) is much lower.

• For children one to three years old, the recommended free sugar intake is about 30 grams per day.
• For children four to six years old, the recommended sugar intake is about 35 grams of free sugar per day.
• For children seven to 10 years old, the recommended sugar intake is about 35 grams of free sugar per day.
• For adolescents and those active in sports, sugar intake can be higher.

Why is Eating Too Much Sugar Harmful

Consuming sugar in excess is harmful to the body in many ways, especially for young children who need nutrients such as protein, vitamins, minerals and others to grow strong and healthy and not empty calories like sugar that are detrimental to their health in the short and long term. At the very least, eating too much sugar puts your child at risk of developing cavities, which in itself, will lead to a host of dental problems when the permanent teeth come in.

Eating Sweet is Habit Forming

Furthermore, it may cause the child to develop unhealthy cravings. It has been said that a large part of a person’s food preference starts during their early years. If the child develops a taste for sweet food, you may find it very difficult to curb his “sweet tooth” as he grows older and switch him to a healthier, less sweet diet when he reaches his teenage years. Consistently eating a high sugar diet will lead to weight gain and obesity.

Dire Effects of Obesity

Obesity[5] has its own set of problems and Malaysia has one of the highest rates for obesity in Southeast Asia.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022[6], one third of all Malaysian teens aged 13 to 17 are overweight or obese. The report also said that one in three adolescents drink soft drinks daily, one in 10 eat fast food at least three days a week and four in five don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. In the NHMS 2019[7] report, it was found that 29.8% of children aged five to 17 were overweight or obese.

Apart from inflicting a dire mental health impact[8] such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and becoming a target for bullying, obesity puts the child at risk for developing high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels and heart disease. Obesity also causes hormonal imbalances and insulin resistance which can eventually lead to Diabetes[9].

Rapid increases and decreases in blood sugar can also lead to mood swings and behavioral issues. Overweight and obesity are associated with bone and joint problems and some forms of cancer[10].

Additionally, excessive sugar intake also affects the immune system causing the child to get sick more often when exposed to viruses and bacteria. He may also be plagued by allergies like asthma, eczema, or hives because the spike in blood sugar[11] can impact the immune system’s ability to fight off allergens and cause these allergic reactions in some people. Excessive sugar can also affect a child’s sleep patterns[12] and due to the lack of sleep, learning and concentration may be compromised.

Malaysia’s Sugar Reduction Campaign 2023

In light of our over consumption of sugar, our Ministry of Health launched the Sugar Reduction Advocacy Campaign 2023[13] to open the eyes of Malaysians to the dangers of excessive sugar consumption and Diabetes.

One fifth of Malaysian adults suffer from Diabetes[14] and the rate of diabetic patients nationwide has gone up from 11.2% in 2011 to 18.3% in 2019.

It has been found that most of our excessive sugar intake comes through our drinks, which is why the campaign comes with the slogan − “Sugar: One teaspoon is enough, less is better, none is best.”

No Sucrose in Morinaga Chil-kid

With milk being a very important component of a growing child’s diet, Morinaga Chil-kid gives the assurance that there is Zero Sucrose in its formulation, meaning it is made without any added sucrose to ensure that a child does not intake unnecessary additional sugar in his or her daily diet.

Instead, the milk is packed with only the essential nutrients to make certain the formulation compensates for any nutritional deficiencies that may occur when the child transitions to full-fledged family food. Being very young, some children may be picky eaters who may refuse accepting variety in their diets while some families may practice unhealthy dietary habits due to their food preferences or misinformation about healthy eating.

As a result, a child may not get enough protein or polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omerga-3), iron, calcium, zinc, folic acid or Vitamins A and D in their diets. According to the 2020 Global Nutrition Report, Malaysia is still experiencing a malnutrition burden among its under-five population[15]. Stunting, wasting and obesity are still prevalent among the under-fives despite efforts to meet global targets.

Greater Goodness from Japan and the Netherlands

Morinaga Chil-kid is a Japanese growing up milk backed by Morinaga’s Research and Development (R&D) in Japan with over 100 years of innovation. The milk was introduced to Malaysia in 1968 and was the first Japanese milk formula sold in this country. It is halal-certified and has been providing high quality nutrition to three generations of Malaysians.

Formulated to suit Asian children’s physique from age one to seven, Morinaga Chil-kid is packed with over 45 essential nutrients such as ARA and DHA, Omega 3&6 Long Chain Polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs), prebiotics Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), five Nucleotides, and 27 key Vitamins and Minerals.

They include Vitamins A, C, D, E, K1 and all the B Vitamins including Folic Acid and Minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Zinc and many more. All of these nutrients are formulated in an optimal balance of protein, fat and energy to support the physical and cognitive development of fast-growing children.

Morinaga Chil-kid is made from cow’s milk from the Netherlands’ dairy farms and packed in the Netherlands’ state-of-the-art plant where it undergoes stringent production processes and product examination every step of the way. The final product goes through a quality assurance process at the plant with samples sent to Morinaga Japan for a second inspection before it is exported to Malaysia.

How to Reduce Added Sugar in Your Child’s Diet

Generally speaking, sugar makes up 17%[16] of what children consume each day. This percentage includes naturally-occurring sugars and added sugars.

Naturally-occurring sugars are sugars that are found naturally in foods such as fruits and honey (fructose), milk (lactose), vegetables and fruits (glucose) and starchy foods and carbohydrates (maltrose). There’s already a lot of sugar in the food we eat.

And then we add additional sugar or sweeteners on top of these food and drinks to enhance their sweetness and flavour for better palatability.

For children, the biggest source of added sugar is not in what they eat but in what they drink. Here are five ways to reduce added sugar in their diet.

1: Reduce or Eliminate Sugary Drinks

This includes carbonated drinks, syrups, sports drinks, packaged fruit drinks and especially street/stall fruit drink concoctions such as ice mango royale juice which come with added sugar to make it extra sweet, Milo Ais Kepal or even coconut water with added sugar. So long as it is taken without the added sugar syrup that stall holders routinely add in, it is perfect to keep the body hydrated in our hot and humid climate. The best drink, however, is of course, plain water. Help your children acquire a taste for it by serving it more often.

2: Reduce Sugary Granola/Protein/Chocolate Bars, Snacks and Yoghurts

A lot of these foods can account for a high amount of a child’s added sugar intake. Instead of letting your child snack on chocolate or caramelized bars and wafers, try offering fresh fruit instead. As for yoghurts which are healthy as they come with live culture, a lot of them are heavily sweetened and contain unnecessary additives. Read the labels. The best yoghurt is always the natural, unsweetened yoghurt.

3: Serve More Vegetables and Fruits

The NHMS 2022 has found that four out of five children do not consume enough fruits and vegetables in their daily diet. Instead of allowing children to snack on junk food and empty calories to stem hunger, whole fruits and vegetables which contain water and fibre, as well as plenty of vitamins and minerals, will help children feel full. The chewing process is also an important process of satiety.

4: Be Aware of Hidden Added Sugars in Processed Foods

Watch out for added sugar in sauces such as tomato sauce, chili sauce, soy sauce and all the other various sauces that we use liberally to flavour our foods. Other hidden sugars in processed food and condiments include salad dressing, baked beans, mayonnaise, pasta sauces and canned and packaged soups.

5: Be an Example for Your Children

This is actually the most important point. If you want to prevent your child from consuming too much sweet foods and beverages, begin by limiting these foods in the house. Parents should set a good example themselves by eating more fruits and vegetables, and drinking water instead of sugary drinks.