Hidden Sugar: 'Healthy' Packaged Foods Fool Teens

• Teens are often misled by "healthy" packaged foods like yoghurts and snack bars, which contain high levels of hidden sugar.
• Indian adolescents consume 2-3 times the WHO recommended sugar intake, with over 70% coming from packaged foods.
• Clever branding and complex ingredient names mask sugar content, making products not taste overtly sweet and leading consumers to believe they are healthy.
• Despite strong labelling laws, consumers often overlook the "added sugar" line, contributing to rising health issues like obesity and early diabetes in teenagers.
• Developing label literacy, such as checking added sugar and comparing it to WHO limits, can significantly reduce sugar intake among young people.

Why It Matters: Hidden sugars in "healthy" packaged foods pose serious health risks for teens.