Why is too much sugar not good for us?

India’s food checkers want less sugar in baby food. So how much sugar is too much for kids like you?

News Nibbles Edition 3 · Saturday 24 October 2026· Page 11 of the paper

Sugar tastes yummy! Our bodies use it for energy, to run, play and think. A little sugar is fine. But too much sugar, every day, is not good for us.

How much is too much?

Doctors say children should have less than about 6 teaspoons of added sugar in a whole day. One can of fizzy drink can have 8 or 9 teaspoons. That is more than a whole day’s sugar, in one drink!

In the news

This month, FSSAI, the group that checks food in India, made a plan. It wants no added sugar in food for babies up to six months old. Babies already get natural sugar from milk.

Sugar likes to hide

Sugar is in lots of packets, even ones that don’t taste very sweet, like some breads, biscuits, sauces and drinks.

Four reasons to go easy on sugar

Teeth

Germs in your mouth love sugar. They make holes in your teeth.

Tummy space

Sweet drinks fill you up, so there is less room for good food.

No growing power

Sugar gives quick energy, but no vitamins to help you grow.

Habit

The more sweet things we eat, the more we want!

Be a sugar detective

With a grown-up, find the label on a packet at home. Look for Sugars. About 4 grams is one teaspoon.

Food: Sugars: g

Tasty swaps

Instead of a fizzy drink,
try water or buttermilk.

Instead of sweet biscuits,
try roasted peanuts or chana.

Instead of sweets,
try a banana or some papaya.

For grown-ups: The 6-teaspoon guide (under 25 g a day for ages 2–18) is from the American Heart Association. A 330 ml cola has about 35 g. The FSSAI baby-food rule is a draft (16 October), open for comment for 60 days.