Recent research by Foodwatch shows that 56% of all supermarket food products contain added sugar. According to the Federation of the Dutch Food Industry (FNLI), sugar also has a technical function, such as preserving food.
Foodwatch reported that 651 food products were randomly selected from Albert Heijn, Jumbo, and Lidl. Based on the ingredients list, they checked whether any form of sugar was added.
Foodwatch didn’t just look at obvious sugar-containing products like soft drinks and candy, but also items such as sliced meats, canned vegetables, ready-made salads, breaded fish, tomato ketchup, rusks, and bread.
According to Foodwatch, 69% of processed foods contain sugar—if you exclude minimally processed or unprocessed items like fresh fruits and vegetables and basic ingredients like herbs, salt, and oils. They found sugar in products such as ready-made salads, canned vegetables, deli meats, savory snacks, and breakfast cereals—items where consumers wouldn’t typically expect added sugar.
The FNLI acknowledged that it’s good to have watchdogs like Foodwatch but emphasized that the industry isn’t standing still. Since 2014, the food industry has been collaborating with retailers and the government through the “Agreement to Improve Product Composition” to structurally reduce sugar, salt, and fat wherever possible. The targets were set for 2020, and FNLI has been actively working towards them.
According to the most recent Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2007–2010) by the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment), sugars from products like ready-made salads, canned vegetables, and deli meats make up only a small portion of total sugar intake.