Updates on estimated added sugars consumption trends in Canada

On May 31, 2023, Statistics Canada released annual loss-adjusted food availability data for 2022, including updated data on sugars, syrups, and soft drinks. This data can be used to estimate the availability of added sugars in Canada and serves as a proxy to monitor trends in per capita (per person) added sugars consumption in Canada. 

• The trend in estimated average added sugars¹ consumption in Canada shows a gradual declining trend over the past two decades (see graph below). 
• Estimated per capita added sugars consumption in Canada is 11.2% of energy intake for 2022 (see graph below). 
• Over the past 20 years, there has been a 13% per capita reduction based on % energy (decline from 12.9% energy in 2002 to 11.2% energy in 2022).
• The largest contributor to the decline in added sugars is the continued decline in soft drinks availability, which is down 57% compared with 2002.
• Annual year to year variability over this time period mostly reflects variable use of liquid sugar as a substitute for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in soft drinks². 

^1.    Total added sugars estimated from Statistics Canada data on refined sugar, maple sugar, honey, and soft drinks (estimated sugars content).
^2.    While HFCS is the main sweetener used in soft drinks, liquid sugar is sometimes used by beverage manufacturers depending on price and/or consumer preference in some beverages. This causes double counting of liquid sugar in soft drinks because liquid sugar is also included in StatCan data on refined sugar.

New Infographic Available for Download: Sugars Consumption in Canada

For more information, CSI’s latest infographic “Sugars Consumption in Canada” combines the most recent added sugars availability data with information from analysis of Canadian Community Health Survey sugars consumption data for adults and children. It is available to download from our website. 

Additional Resources: 

• CSI Webpage: Consumption of Sugars in Canada
• Wang YF, et al. Trends in Loss-Adjusted Availability of Added Sugars and Energy Contribution from Macronutrients and Major Food Groups in Canada and the United States. Journal of the American Nutrition Association. 2022; 42:5, 459-468
• Wang YF, et al. Canadian Adults with Moderate Intakes of Total Sugars have Greater Intakes of Fibre and Key Micronutrients: Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015 Public Use Microdata File. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 17;12(4):E1124. 
• Chiavaroli L, et al. Intakes of nutrients and food categories in Canadian children and adolescents across levels of sugars intake: Cross-sectional analyses of the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015 Public Use Microdata File. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2022 Jan. 
• Newens KJ & Walton J. A review of sugar consumption from nationally representative dietary surveys across the world. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12338