Stopp für Zuckersteuer: Wie gefährlich ist Zucker?
Deutsche konsumieren täglich bis zu 100 Gramm Zucker – weit mehr als die WHO empfiehlt. Welche Folgen drohen?
The German federal government has temporarily halted the implementation of a sugar tax, leaving open the question of how to curb the excessive sugar consumption in the country. The health risks associated with high sugar intake are significant. Sugar contains no vitamins or minerals, and provides unnecessary calories. Those who regularly consume more than the recommended amounts increase their risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.
"Sugar is not the only, but a relevant cause," explained nutrition researcher Stefan Kabisch from Berlin's Charité in late 2025. Regular sugar consumption can permanently disrupt the body's ability to regulate hunger and satiety, making it much harder for individuals to resist the urge to eat more, as Marc Tittgemeyer from Germany's Max Planck Institute for Metabolic Research explained in March 2026.
German citizens far exceed the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendation of no more than 50 grams of "free sugars" per day, preferably less than 25 grams (six teaspoons). Free sugars include added or naturally occurring sugars in fruit juices, while fruit itself is not a source. German sugar consumption regularly surpasses these guidelines.
Men consume an average of 78 grams per day, while women consume about 61 grams, with the total potentially reaching 100 grams per day when including other sources of sugar. This is a warning sign for future decades. Children, adolescents and young adults are especially affected. They consume five to ten times more sugar-sweetened drinks than older individuals.
Federal Physicians' Chamber President Klaus Reinhardt warned at the end of 2025 that a "massive wave of diabetics" is likely to burden society due to lack of exercise and unhealthy diets among children and youth. Studies also suggest that high sugar consumption in childhood may increase the risk of colon cancer in adulthood. Moreover, sugar is proven to damage teeth: it is the main cause of tooth decay, as bacteria produce acids that erode tooth enamel, threatening dental health.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
