Periodic Reporting for period 3 - SWEET (Sweeteners and sweetness enhancers: Impact on health, obesity, safety and sustainability)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-10-01 al 2022-09-30
Short term effects on feeding behaviour - Phase 1 trials have assessed the acute impact of S&SE blends in beverages. Analysis of biological samples is ongoing. Ethical approval has been secured and trials commenced at all sites involved in the Phase 2 trials.
Prolonged effects on health diet and safety - The long term dietary intervention has been revised to a 1-year intervention without follow-up. The recruitment goal for adults was achieved but a reduced number of children were recruited. The intervention has been completed and final data entry and cleansing is ongoing.
Epidemiological studies - Data has been harmonised to produce a common virtual database to merge analysis. Longitudinal associations between S&SE intake and markers of metabolic syndrome and NAFLD has been analysed. Work to develop and validate an S&SE biomarker method to compare self-reported S&SE intake with real-world has been completed. Work is ongoing to assess biomarker levels in cohort studies. Dietary coding required to establish the relative importance of genetic and environmental influences on S&SE intake in childhood has been completed.
Sustainability modelling - Scoping work has identified and selected S&SEs and food products for in-depth case-study by LCA approaches. Attributional and Consequential LCAs and Life Cycle costings have been complete for Thaumatin, Steviol glycosides, Aspartame, Neotame and Sucralose. Social LCAs have been completed for Thaumatin, Steviol Glycosides and Sucralose.
Innovation, exploitation and dissemination - An impact plan has been developed & the initial gender action plan completed. A second phase of monitoring gender equality is ongoing. Mass media analysis & social media analysis have been completed. Consumer derived typology of S&SEs has been completed in both UK and Spain. An online survey examining cross-European stakeholder attitudes towards S&SEs is being prepared for distribution.
In terms of impact, SWEET builds partnerships between public and private sector partners which will generate evidence on the potential use of S&SEs in combating obesity while improving the sustainability of food in the EU. It will also empower the consumer by allowing a greater number of potential, and better-informed food choices to improve their diet. Regulators will also be better informed on the safety of new products and S&SE blends including the long-term impact of their use in the diet. Individual differences in needs, responses and preferences will allow the tailoring of products to specific consumer needs. The project will help industry responsibly development S&SEs acceptable to consumers to replace sugar in foods. This will be done by understanding the economic, social and environment consequences of these changes. Stakeholder workshops will be used to feed in concerns, barriers, and potential solutions, as well as disseminate outcomes. The resulting stakeholder plan will ensure the above impacts will be delivered via communication between consumers, patient representatives and advocates, non-governmental organisations, ingredients makers, food producers and retailers, health experts, regulators and media.