SACN Guidelines on Free Sugars
February 2026
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is an independent expert committee that provides evidence-based advice to the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England on nutrition matters. SACN reviews published scientific literature and commissions evidence syntheses to develop recommendations on dietary components and public health. The committee comprises leading nutritional scientists, epidemiologists, and health professionals with expertise in nutrition science.
SACN reports undergo rigorous peer review and public consultation before finalization, reflecting the complex, evidence-based process underlying UK nutritional guidance. Unlike commercial nutrition advice, which may have financial incentives, SACN recommendations are intended to reflect the scientific evidence without commercial influence. This makes SACN reports a primary source for understanding how UK public health bodies interpret nutritional science related to dietary sugar.
Free Sugars and SACN's Definition
SACN distinguishes between free sugars and intrinsic sugars. Free sugars are sugars in foods and beverages, including monosaccharides and disaccharides added by the manufacturer or during preparation, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, and fruit juices. Intrinsic sugars are those naturally present and incorporated within the cellular structure of whole fruits and vegetables. This distinction reflects a recognition that the form in which sugars are consumed may influence health outcomes, particularly regarding dental health and micronutrient displacement.
The SACN definition reflects an important distinction in food science: whole fruits contain fiber, micronutrients, and phytochemicals alongside intrinsic sugars, whereas fruit juice contains sugar but lacks the fiber and cellular matrix of whole fruit. This distinction has informational value in understanding food composition and nutrient density, though from an energy balance perspective, all sugars contribute similarly to total energy intake.
SACN's Sugar Intake Recommendations
SACN recommends that free sugars should comprise no more than 5-10% of total daily energy intake for the general adult population. For an average adult consuming 2000 calories daily, this corresponds to approximately 25-50 grams of free sugar per day (approximately 6-12 teaspoons). SACN based these recommendations on evidence from multiple research areas, including studies on dental health, nutrient quality, and observational associations with body weight and disease risk.
For children, SACN provides age-specific recommendations reflecting developmental considerations. Younger children have lower absolute caloric needs, making percentage-based limits more restrictive in absolute terms. These recommendations are presented as population-level guidance for general health rather than individual directives targeting specific body composition outcomes. The recommendations acknowledge that sugar reduction could improve dental health and potentially improve diet quality by reducing consumption of nutrient-poor foods.
Evidence Base for Sugar Guidelines
SACN's recommendations are informed by several categories of evidence. Research on dental caries (cavities) demonstrates that free sugar consumption, particularly frequent consumption of sugary foods and beverages, increases risk of dental decay. This provides robust mechanistic and observational evidence for reducing free sugar intake, particularly from liquids that bathe teeth. Epidemiological research documents associations between high sugar consumption patterns and various health outcomes, including body weight trends, though these associations are subject to the confounding limitations discussed previously.
SACN also considers the nutrient displacement effect—the observation that foods high in free sugars are often lower in micronutrients compared to less-processed alternatives. From a nutritional quality perspective, free sugars may displace more nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources. This reflects a public health perspective emphasizing overall diet quality rather than focusing specifically on sugar as the primary dietary problem. The recommendations attempt to balance available evidence while acknowledging the complexity and multifactorial nature of nutrition and health.
Translation to Public Health Policy
NHS resources and Public Health England communications translate SACN evidence into public health messaging. The messaging emphasizes reducing free sugars as part of a healthy diet pattern, alongside recommendations for physical activity, adequate vegetables and fruits, and overall balanced nutrition. Public health campaigns highlight the prevalence of hidden sugars in processed foods and encourage awareness of sugar content in beverages, which are identified as a particular concern.
UK food labeling regulations require disclosure of total sugars and free sugars on packaged foods, allowing consumers to identify sugar content. The "5-a-day" campaign promoting fruit and vegetable consumption reflects a shift toward nutrient-dense foods rather than a specific focus on reducing individual nutrients. This integrated approach recognizes that optimal nutrition involves the overall quality and composition of the diet rather than isolated nutrients.
Limitations of Population-Level Guidelines
SACN guidelines are population-level recommendations intended to optimize health across diverse groups. They do not represent optimal individual nutrition, which varies based on personal circumstances, health conditions, activity levels, and metabolic characteristics. An individual with particular health conditions, athletic goals, or metabolic characteristics might appropriately consume sugar amounts differing from population recommendations. The guidelines represent general population guidance rather than individual prescription.
Furthermore, guidelines address multiple health outcomes simultaneously, not solely body composition. Dental health, nutrient density, and observational associations with disease risk inform recommendations beyond weight management. This multifactorial approach reflects the recognition that optimal nutrition involves many considerations beyond energy balance and body weight. The recommendations remain informational context within the broader scientific literature, not imperatives for specific body composition outcomes in individual cases.
Educational Notice: This website provides general educational information only. The content is not intended as, and should not be interpreted as, personalised dietary or health advice. Relationships between dietary components and body composition are complex and vary between individuals. For personal nutrition decisions, consult qualified healthcare or nutrition professionals.