News
Children’s yoghurts remain high in sugar as voluntary policies fail to deliver change
Just one in 40 children's yoghurts surveyed by Action on Salt & Sugar are low in sugar, strengthening calls for stronger government measures to create a healthier food environment for children, including from the Recipe for Change Citizen’s Charter.
Many yoghurts marketed to children still contain high levels of sugar, according to new research from Action on Salt & Sugar, despite years of voluntary commitments from industry to improve children's food and drink products.
The survey of 104 children's yoghurts found sugar levels ranging from 4.7g to 14.1g per 100g, with an average of 8.2g per 100g. Just two products were low in total sugars, equivalent to only one in 40 children's yoghurts surveyed.
Although some manufacturers have made significant progress in reducing sugar content, overall improvement across the sector has been slow, with average sugar levels falling by just 11% since 2021. Meanwhile, colourful, child-friendly packaging continues to promote higher-sugar products to young children.
The findings come alongside polling commissioned by the Recipe for Change campaign, which highlights widespread public concern about the ease of eating healthily in today’s food environment. Six in ten people say eating well is difficult, while 79% want government to do more to make healthy food affordable and 61% want action to make healthier options more readily available. The same polling found that 79% of people do not trust the food industry to reduce sugar, salt and saturated fat without government intervention.
Action on Salt & Sugar is calling for stronger government measures, including mandatory reformulation policies and restrictions on the use of child-appealing packaging on less healthy products.
Dr Kawther Hashem, Head of Research & Impact at Action on Salt & Sugar, based at Queen Mary University of London, said:
“Parents could reasonably expect products covered in cartoons and specifically marketed to children to be among the healthier options available, but our findings show that is often not the case. Some companies have shown reductions in sugar is possible, proving that reformulation can be achieved. However, progress remains inconsistent and far too slow because it relies largely on voluntary action.
“Yoghurt can be a valuable source of nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D to children’s diets, but these should not come with unnecessary amounts of free sugars. Parents should not have to choose between providing nutritious foods and avoiding excessive sugar in products specifically marketed for children. Government must introduce stronger measures to ensure all companies reduce sugar levels, and that child-appealing packaging are reserved for the best products out there.”
The research echoes the demands set out in the Recipe for Change Citizens’ Charter, which calls on ministers to stand up to large food companies, strengthen regulation and make healthy food more affordable. The Charter, shaped through public workshops and national polling, is currently gathering signatures ahead of its presentation to MPs later this autumn.
Kate Howard, Recipe for Change Campaign Coordinator at Sustain, said:
“Food companies are highly innovative when there is a commercial incentive, and that same energy should be directed towards making healthier food the easy and affordable option. Industry may point to rising costs and global pressures as reasons to resist change, but clear and consistent rules benefit everyone, including responsible businesses.
“The people who helped shape this Citizens’ Charter are deeply frustrated by the current food system and want meaningful action. That is why we are urging the public to add their names. The more support it receives, the harder it will be for government and industry to ignore."
Published 18 Sep 2026
