Are vitamins useful in sweets?

Vitamins in sweets? In fact, the added vitamins and supplements actually have a benefit to the human body?

(23.07.2010) You can read it again and again on the different packaging of the manufacturers: With slogans like "plus valuable vitamins", "plus glucose or" plus natural fruit juice "confectionery manufacturers promote their sugar-containing products and parents are reassured because the sweets are supposedly valuable ingredients for their children, but is the consumption of sweets actually healthy? The consumer and nutritional organization "Foodwatch" clearly says no: The information and additives of "vitamins" are a "clumsy sales trick".

Wrong impression is conveyed.
"Foodwatch" points out that the additives would give consumers a false impression. For example, the initiator Anne Markwardt told the Foodwatch campaign "Abgespeist" to the Hamburger Abendblatt: "It gives parents the false impression that they can give their children something sweet and do something good at the same time". Because in the majority of cases children in Germany are sufficiently supplied with vitamins, so that it does not require any additives.

Who does not know the "Take 2" candies from Stock. The manufacturer advertises that the sweets have a high content of "vitamins" and "fruit juice". Parents like to use the products, in the spirit of advertising, the children may then also eat two sweets. Many parents know "Take 2" from their own childhood and often associate it with beautiful moments. In fact, the candies also contain vitamins C, E and B as well as folic acid. Foodwatch, however, is eyeing this product particularly critically. But the supply of vitamin C is especially good, at least in Germany. The artificial addition of vitamin C is therefore not only superfluous, but even "highly problematic". And where the recommended levels are not reached, fortified sweets are no substitute for more fruits and vegetables, according to the Consumer Initiative. "On the contrary, they are tempted to access more frequently." But as there is also a lot of sugar in them increases the risk for tooth decay and obesity. Because "children get taught that sweets can be as valuable and rich in important nutrients as fruits and vegetables," says Markwardt of Foodwatch. In a package of 2 300 grams, 215 grams of sugar are contained. The proportion of fruit juice concentrate is just 1.3 percent.

But other products criticized Foodwatch. For example, the juice "Capri-Sonne" and the product "Froot Loops" are also advertised with valuable additives. For example, "Froot Loops" is also advertised as containing "vitamins, calcium and iron". But even these products contain a high proportion of sugar, yet the consumer would be given a "healthy impression". According to Foodwatch, the breakfast cereals contain "highly processed cereals" and a high proportion of sugar. To cover up the negative sugar image, many manufacturers would point out the addition of glucose. But glucose has "no advantages at all over conventional sugar," said Foodwatch expert Marquardt. So you can read on the cocoa product from Nestlé: "plus vitamin and glucose".

Food companies fight back against the allegations.
The product manufacturers, however, defend themselves against the criticism of Foodwatch. A spokesman for Stock said the product was not misleading, pointing out the vitamins and the fruit juice content "accurate and transparent". In addition, buyers would appreciate the traditional product. The criticism was "incompatible with the model of a mature and just as reasonable consumer," said a spokesman for the group. Nestlé also points out that the additions of glucose and vitamins are allegedly desired by customers. "We do not advertise offensively and only point to the additives in a very restrained form on the packaging," said a spokeswoman for the food manufacturer. The manufacturer Kellogg's explained a classification of good and supposedly bad food was from "nutritional point of view" does not make sense. In particular, the iron content of the "Froot Loops" is valuable, since in Europe still 40 percent of women suffer from iron deficiency.

Balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is healthy.
A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, fiber and fish is much more effective and promotes good health. The German Nutrition Society also believes that: "From a nutritional point of view, vitamin supplements in sweets have lost nothing - they are pure marketing instruments," says Antje Gahl.

But what does Heilpraxisnet.de mean? Of course, kids should also eat sweets. But parents should not believe that such products could replace a balanced diet. Rather, it is important to convey to the children that fruits, vegetables, fish and whole-grain products strengthen their health, as they contain all valuable minerals, vitamins and fiber on a natural basis. Sweets are a pleasure, but not a "valuable or complementary" diet, according to Sebastian Bertram. (Sb)

Also read:
Warning of artificial colors in sweets
Diet in Naturopathy
Diverticula: Fiber facilitates the intestine

Links to further information:
foodwatch.de
vegetarische-rezepte.com
fisch-rezepte.info

Photo credit:
Picture: Jörg Siebauer