APPENDIX 4
Memorandum from The British Soft Drinks
Association Ltd
1. The evidence enclosed is submitted on
behalf of the members of the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA),
who are manufacturers, factors and franchisors of bottled waters,
fruit juices, juice drinks and soft drinks (including carbonates,
still drinks and dilutables) in the UK. BSDA incorporates the
Fruit Juice Association and the Bottled Water Association. Its
member companies account for some 95 per cent of sales of soft
drinks in the UK.
INTRODUCTION
2. In January BSDA submitted its views on
the proposals to establish national nutritional standards for
school lunches to the Department for Education and Employment
(DfEE) in response to the consultation document "Ingredients
for Success". BSDA is a member of the Food and Drink Federation
(FDF) and also participated in the preparation of the FDF response
to the Government's proposals.
3. In addition to supporting the FDF's views
the main additional comment made by the association related to
the lack of emphasis placed upon the role of the importance of
fluid in the diet.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF FLUID
4. Great emphasis is regularly placed upon
the role of foods in nutrition but very often the role of fluid
in the diet is forgotten. Fluids are in fact essential in ensuring
the health of not just children but people of all ages.
5. The British Dietetic Association guidelines
state that an average adult should consume 2.5 litres of water
daily, of which 1.8 litres (or 5 x 330 ml cans; 7 x 250 ml glasses)
must be in fluid form, the remainder being obtained from foods.
For children to maintain their correct water level of 60-70 per
cent body weight, they need to consume up to two litres of fluid
every day. This intake needs to be increased during periods of
hot weather or during and after periods of physical activity in
order to avoid dehydration.
DEHYDRATION
6. Adults eliminate around 2.5 litres of
water per day, through urine, perspiration and respiration. In
children this varies greatly according to the outside temperature,
the age and activity levels of the child, as well as other factors.
Children do not instinctively drink enough to replenish the fluids
lost during prolonged activity or play periods and evidence has
shown that they consequently become dehydrated (Ref 1). Research
has shown that children are more likely to drink sufficient to
replace lost fluids and maintain hydration during activity when
presented with flavoured beverages (Ref 2).
7. Fluid plays a vital role in controlling
body temperature. During periods of intense physical effort, body
heat also rises and needs to be regulated. Prepubescent children
are particularly prone to overheating if dehydrated (Ref 3). As
the perception of thirst does not increase in children in response
to exercise, a child should also therefore be fully hydrated BEFORE
any period of physical activity.
8. It should be remembered that being thirsty
is a sign of significant dehydration. There are also other
"side effects" such as headache, fatigue and constipation.
All these factors could have detrimental impacts upon concentration
levels, preventing children from fulfilling their potential.
CHILDRENS' VIEWS
9. The Schools Nutrition Action Group has
regularly emphasised that children should be involved in the consultation
process regarding food in schools. It may therefore be worth noting
the existing drinking habits of children and the thought processes
behind them. To children aged four to 14 years, overwhelmingly,
the most highly held drink attribute is that it "be refreshing"
and this desire increases with age. Second comes the "availability
of different flavours" (Ref 4). The most popular drinks were
(approximate percentage drinking these products):
(A) Carbonates 88 per cent.
(C) Dilutables 63 per cent.
(D) Tea and coffee 62 per cent.
(E) Pure fruit juice 61 per cent.
(F) Juice drinks 57 per cent.
(G) Bottled water 34 per cent.
(H) Flavoured milk 32 per cent.
10. The research shows that children are
used to being offered and determining a choice from a wide selection
of drinks. Hence, offering a selection or choice of drinks will
further allow children to take ownership of their own diets helping
to set the foundations for the future. Depriving children of choice
in schools will not help in educating them to make balanced choices
over the course of time.
CONCLUSION
11. Since children need to obtain about
two litres of fluid each day it is recommended that a wide selection
of drinks should be offered to children each day, including milk,
soft drinks (carbonates, still drinks and dilutables), water,
fruit juices and juice drinks, to ensure that children are sufficiently
hydrated throughout the school day.
12. It should be noted that fruit juice
is recognised as a possible portion of the "five a day"
(fruit and vegetables). Other drinks should be available to fulfil
fluid intake needs.
REFERENCES
1. Committee on Sports Medicine, American
Academy of Pediatrics. Athletics in Hot and Cold Environments.
In: Sports Medicine: Health Care for Young Athletes (Smith
NJ, ed) Evanston, III., American Academy of Pediatrics c1983;
142-160.
2. Wilk B, Bar-Or O. Effect of drink flavor
and the NaCl on voluntary drinking and hydration in boys exercising
in the heat. J Appl Physiol. 1996; 80(4):1112-1117.
3. Committee on Sports Medicine, Americn
Academy of Pediatrics. Climatic Heat Stress and the Exercising
Child. The Physician and Sports Medicine 1983; 11(8): 158-159.
4. Children's Drinks—What children
and mothers really think, SMRC Childwise and Tetra Pak, 1996.
July 1999
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