Swedes are increasingly spending more money on sweets than fruits
Swedes bought sweets for SEK 34.5 billion, which is an increase of 4.6 percent compared with the previous year , new statistics from Statistics Sweden show. Fruits consumption was SEK 30 per person per week, which was the same as in 2018. In total, fruits were sold for approximately SEK 20.5 billion in 2019, which corresponds to 6.7 percent of food sales and decreased by 0.5 percent compared with the previous year.
Problem : Low level
Eating too much sugar raises your risk for gaining weight and the health problems that are associated with being overweight. You are more likely to suffer from diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and many other health conditions when you indulge your sweet tooth too often. The main concern is that table sugar isn’t the only culprit when it comes to sugar. Sugar goes by many names on food labels, including corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice, glucose, maltodextrin, maltose and molasses.
Problem : Top level
Country like Sweden where medical care is paid by the government, it is more important to understand that people’s health is the priority of not only yourself but has implications for the society as a whole which means it becomes also a problem for public policy.
Opportunity
This trend isn’t just a threat for public health but also an opportunity in disguise for setting an agenda for a more sustainable future. This implies more focus on locally grown seasonal fruits, encouraging less processed food (which usually has high sugar content), and replacing processed sugar with natural alternatives. In the medium to long term, it would lead to improved public health as well as less strain on public health care.
