Latest news with #SACN
The Citizen
13-05-2025
- The Citizen
Locals disagree on ‘Tshwane is safest metro in SA'
Locals disagree on 'Tshwane is safest metro in SA' The Tshwane metro has welcomed findings of an independent national study that ranked it the safest metropolitan city in South Africa, but not everyone agrees. The 2024 State of Urban Safety in South Africa report, published by the South African Cities Network (SACN), named Tshwane as the country's safest major city, citing rigorous data analysis to assess crime and safety levels across metros. MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning Sarah Mabotsa, said the city welcomes the finding, which was backed by more than just 'internal data or wishful thinking'. 'We welcome the confirmation that Tshwane is South Africa's safest city. The safety data from the Tshwane Tourism Association is verified by this fully independent national report,' said Mabotsa. However, residents, security companies and local councillors questioned the report's reflection of day-to-day reality. Ian Fuller, a resident of Pretoria east, was quick to dismiss the accolade. 'Safety and security are being able to walk freely and knowing police officers are visible and applying laws,' he said. 'You will not see police officers in Tshwane.' He pointed to the lack of basic infrastructure, like working streetlights and sidewalks, as evidence of deeper safety issues. 'If it wasn't for residents' exterior lights, we'd have to walk with torches,' Fuller added. 'I can't even let my son cycle to school because it's unsafe.' Private security companies in Tshwane said community-driven patrols were doing the heavy lifting. Gerhard Rossouw, operations manager at CSI Security, said crime has improved, but that was largely due to their patrol efforts. 'We patrol our areas until 05:00. Without the patrols, there is no safety,' said Rossouw. Roelie Hendriks, a director at Alpha Security, said it's relatively safe during the day for tourists, but the situation changes after dark. 'We do free patrols from 23:00 to 05:00. If we didn't, there would be far more break-ins,' said Hendriks. He mentioned recent incidents in The Willows where patrollers had to chase down suspects involved in house burglaries. 'We, as communities, are the ones implementing safety. That's the only reason it feels safe.' Ward 82 councillor Siobhan Muller expressed doubt about Tshwane's top ranking. 'If Tshwane is the safest, then the country must be in a terrible state,' she said. Muller noted a recent phone-snatching in broad daylight. She also said students in Hatfield live in constant fear both day and night. 'The crime rate is high. There is no two ways about it,' said Muller. 'Cable theft had returned in areas like Menlo Park.' Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Star
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Experts say young children should avoid drinks with this sugar and sweetener
Pre-school children should not be given drinks laden with sugar or artificial sweeteners, experts have said. Younger children – typically those under the age of five – were already advised not to consume sugary drinks. Now experts advising government have said they should not be given 'drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS (non-sugar sweeteners)'. Academics said that limiting intake of sweetened drinks in early childhood means that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks. But for older children sweeteners 'may help reduce sugar intake', experts said. The British government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also said that younger children should be given 'unsweetened food (not sweetened with either sugar or NSS)'. Low or no calorie sweeteners are used instead of sugar to sweeten some foods and drinks. These substances are found in products such as drinks, desserts and ready meals and cakes. Sweeteners approved for use in Britain include acesulfame K, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, steviol glycosides, sucralose and xylitol. Some squash drinks, which are popular with children, contain sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame K. Scientific evidence has linked sugar consumption to a range of health conditions including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Because of the ability of artificial and natural sweeteners to impart a sweet taste without calories, some have argued they can help to prevent people becoming overweight or obese But global health leaders from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in 2023 that people should avoid NSS as a tool for weight control. The latest SACN update is in response to this report. Treat with caution Experts on the committee, which advises government on nutrition and related health matters, said some of the evidence assessed by the WHO about sweeteners and weight loss should be 'treated with caution'. It said the evidence linking NSS to non-communicable diseases is 'concerning' but should also be 'treated with caution'. The evidence on the impact of NSS on tooth decay is 'poor', the committee added. The SACN said it agrees with the WHO that a reduction in free sugars, alongside 'other positive changes to diet', is likely to be beneficial to health overall. It added: 'In relation to the use of NSS to reduce free sugars intake, SACN concludes that the evidence indicates that there may be some value in using NSS to help reduce weight gain in the short to medium term but it is not essential and is not the only option.' The committee said it is 'concerned about the gap in data on British population exposure to NSS'. And it said there is 'currently insufficient evidence to carry out a full risk assessment of the evidence on NSS and health.' Nonetheless, the committee made 'precautionary' recommendations that younger children should not have drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS, and they should only be given unsweetened food. But the group of experts say that for older children 'swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks (and so reduce energy intake), at least in the short term – the long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake'. Commenting on the recommendations, Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: 'I think this is a very balanced statement. 'SACN have accepted that the best quality evidence available (ie randomised trials) show that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) lower weight albeit modestly as compared to taking sugar rich drinks and that other types of evidence which suggest some harm from NSS are unreliable. 'I fully agree and would rather people take low calorie drinks with artificial sweeteners every time than sugar rich drinks both for weight and dental benefits and potentially other gains. 'However, SACN also correctly points out that until we have more evidence in the future on benefits and safety of NSS, it would be best to limit the intake of all such sweetened (including NSS) drinks in early childhood so that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks, preferably water.' Milk and water Dr Hilda Mulrooney, reader in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, added: 'Recommendations were already – and have been for several years – that ideally young children should not drink squash – milk or water are the best options. 'Sugar sweetened squash is not recommended due to the sugar content but even sweetened with NSS, it enhances preferences for sweet tastes in children which can be hard to overcome.' 'We welcome SACN's advice on the consumption of non-sugar sweeteners and their call for further research,' Professor Robin May, chief scientific adviser for the Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA), said. 'We strongly support SACN's call for industry to make data on the quantity of these sweeteners in their ingredients publicly available to provide better information on how much people are consuming and to help inform our assessments of these ingredients.' – dpa
The Citizen
06-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane is SA's safest metro
The Tshwane metro has welcomed an independent study naming it the safest metropolitan city in South Africa. The 2024 State of Urban Safety in SA report, published by the South African Cities Network (SACN), claims to use rigorous, data-driven methodology to assess the safety levels of SA's major cities. The findings place Tshwane at the top of the list, declaring it the country's safest major metro. MMC for Economic Development and Spatial Planning, Sarah Mabotsa, welcomed the findings, saying it relies on more than 'internal data or wishful thinking'. 'We welcome the confirmation that Tshwane is South Africa's safest city. The Tshwane Tourism Association's safety figures are verified by this fully independent national report.' According to Mabotsa, the report is based on a range of indicators, most notably homicide rates, and draws on public data from sources including the police and Statistics South Africa. She said it has been designed to offer cities and their residents a clear, comparative view of urban safety and be free from political spin. 'Importantly, the SACN does not operate under municipal or political structures, ensuring the report's independence. Its findings are widely regarded as a reliable benchmark across the public and private sectors.' Supporting the findings of the SACN report, surveys by StatsSA also indicate that residents of Tshwane feel safer walking their neighbourhoods at night than residents of other major South African cities. In April, the metro and the Tshwane Tourism Association signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to boost tourism collaboration. A key part of this agreement is focused on promoting safety, visitor confidence and economic opportunities, especially in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) sector. 'The tourism sector, and specifically the MICE component, has been identified as a sector that can create much more employment in Tshwane,' said Mabotsa. She said the metro has a lot to offer, and now, safety is something it can confidently promote. Based on international data from the United States in 2021, Tshwane is statistically as safe as cities like Newark or Chicago and safer than Cincinnati, Atlanta, Washington DC and New Orleans. 'Tshwane has its challenges like any other city, but we must tell the full, data-backed story,' said Mabotsa. She added that visitors can enjoy a wide range of attractions, from the 90 000-hectare Dinokeng Big 5 Game Reserve in the north to township and city tours, local nature reserves, cultural landmarks, and historic sites like the Voortrekker Monument, Freedom Park, and the Union Buildings. The multiparty coalition government in Tshwane also committed to a far-reaching economic revitalisation strategy. 'We're aiming to add at least 80 000 jobs to the city's economy by 2029,' Mabotsa said. Mabotsa said tourism is one of the top priority sectors. 'To our local and international visitors, we say: Welcome to South Africa's safest city. 'Not only do we have a lot to offer you, but your visit helps create jobs and opportunities. Thank you. Baie dankie. Kea leboga. Inkomu, Nkosi.' Chairperson of the Tshwane Tourism Association, Susan Marais, welcomed the report as validation of what many in the local tourism industry already knew. 'Tshwane offers not just an abundance of attractions, but also a comparatively safer experience for visitors.' Marais said it is a vibrant, globally relevant destination. She added it represents over 200 members, from tour operators and accommodation providers to event venues and culinary experiences. 'Safety is a critical part of what makes a destination attractive, and this report confirms what our visitors are already experiencing.' To see the independent report, click on the following link: Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Young children should avoid drinks with sweeteners, experts say
Pre-school children should not be given drinks laden with sugar or artificial sweeteners, experts have said. Younger children – typically those under the age of five – were already advised not to consume sugary drinks. Now experts advising government have said they should not be given 'drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS (non-sugar sweeteners)'. Academics said that limiting intake of sweetened drinks in early childhood means that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks. But for older children sweeteners 'may help reduce sugar intake', experts said. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also said that younger children should be given 'unsweetened food (not sweetened with either sugar or NSS)'. Low or no calorie sweeteners are used instead of sugar to sweeten some foods and drinks. These substances are found in products such as drinks, desserts and ready meals and cakes. Sweeteners approved for use in the UK include acesulfame K, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, steviol glycosides, sucralose and xylitol. Some squash drinks, which are popular with children, contain sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame K. Scientific evidence has linked sugar consumption to a range of health conditions including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Because of the ability of artificial and natural sweeteners to impart a sweet taste without calories, some have argued they can help to prevent people becoming overweight or obese But global health leaders from the World Health Organisation said in 2023 that people should avoid NSS as a tool for weight control. The latest SACN update is in response to this report. Experts on the committee, which advises government on nutrition and related health matters, said some of the evidence assessed by the WHO about sweeteners and weight loss should be 'treated with caution'. It said the evidence linking NSS to non-communicable diseases is 'concerning' but should also be 'treated with caution'. The evidence on the impact of NSS on tooth decay is 'poor', the committee added. The SACN said it agrees with the WHO that a reduction in free sugars, alongside 'other positive changes to diet', is likely to be beneficial to health overall. It added: 'In relation to the use of NSS to reduce free sugars intake, SACN concludes that the evidence indicates that there may be some value in using NSS to help reduce weight gain in the short to medium term but it is not essential and is not the only option.' The committee said it is 'concerned about the gap in data on UK population exposure to NSS'. And it said there is 'currently insufficient evidence to carry out a full risk assessment of the evidence on NSS and health.' Nonetheless, the committee made 'precautionary' recommendations that younger children should not have drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS, and they should only be given unsweetened food. But the group of experts say that for older children 'swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks (and so reduce energy intake), at least in the short term – the long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake'. Commenting on the recommendations, Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: 'I think this is a very balanced statement. 'SACN have accepted that the best quality evidence available (ie randomised trials) show that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) lower weight albeit modestly as compared to taking sugar rich drinks and that other types of evidence which suggest some harm from NSS are unreliable. 'I fully agree and would rather people take low calorie drinks with artificial sweeteners every time than sugar rich drinks both for weight and dental benefits and potentially other gains. 'However, SACN also correctly points out that until we have more evidence in the future on benefits and safety of NSS, it would be best to limit the intake of all such sweetened (including NSS) drinks in early childhood so that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks, preferably water.' Dr Hilda Mulrooney, reader in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, added: 'Recommendations were already – and have been for several years – that ideally young children should not drink squash – milk or water are the best options. 'Sugar sweetened squash is not recommended due to the sugar content but even sweetened with NSS, it enhances preferences for sweet tastes in children which can be hard to overcome.' Prof Robin May, chief scientific adviser for the Food Standards Agency (FSA), said: 'We welcome SACN's advice on the consumption of non-sugar sweeteners and their call for further research. 'All sweeteners approved for use in foods in GB have been subject to a rigorous risk assessment before being authorised and the FSA maintains strict oversight of these products. 'We strongly support SACN's call for industry to make data on the quantity of these sweeteners in their ingredients publicly available to provide better information on how much people are consuming and to help inform our assessments of these ingredients.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This government is committed to turning the tide on obesity and we have already taken bold action to block fast-food outlets near schools, alongside further measures to crack down on child-targeted junk food advertising on TV and online. 'These are just the first steps we'll take as we shift the focus from sickness to prevention to deliver our Plan for Change and meet our ambition of raising the healthiest generation of children ever.'
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Young children should avoid drinks with sweeteners, experts say
Pre-school children should not be given drinks laden with sugar or artificial sweeteners, experts have said. Younger children – typically those under the age of five – were already advised not to consume sugary drinks. Now experts advising government have said they should not be given 'drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS (non-sugar sweeteners)'. Academics said that limiting intake of sweetened drinks in early childhood means that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks. But for older children sweeteners 'may help reduce sugar intake', experts said. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) also said that younger children should be given 'unsweetened food (not sweetened with either sugar or NSS)'. Low or no calorie sweeteners are used instead of sugar to sweeten some foods and drinks. These substances are found in products such as drinks, desserts and ready meals and cakes. Sweeteners approved for use in the UK include acesulfame K, aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, sorbitol, steviol glycosides, sucralose and xylitol. Some squash drinks, which are popular with children, contain sweeteners such as sucralose and acesulfame K. Scientific evidence has linked sugar consumption to a range of health conditions including obesity and type 2 diabetes. Because of the ability of artificial and natural sweeteners to impart a sweet taste without calories, some have argued they can help to prevent people becoming overweight or obese But global health leaders from the World Health Organisation said in 2023 that people should avoid NSS as a tool for weight control. The latest SACN update is in response to this report. Experts on the committee, which advises government on nutrition and related health matters, said some of the evidence assessed by the WHO about sweeteners and weight loss should be 'treated with caution'. It said the evidence linking NSS to non-communicable diseases is 'concerning' but should also be 'treated with caution'. The evidence on the impact of NSS on tooth decay is 'poor', the committee added. The SACN said it agrees with the WHO that a reduction in free sugars, alongside 'other positive changes to diet', is likely to be beneficial to health overall. It added: 'In relation to the use of NSS to reduce free sugars intake, SACN concludes that the evidence indicates that there may be some value in using NSS to help reduce weight gain in the short to medium term but it is not essential and is not the only option.' The committee said it is 'concerned about the gap in data on UK population exposure to NSS'. And it said there is 'currently insufficient evidence to carry out a full risk assessment of the evidence on NSS and health.' Nonetheless, the committee made 'precautionary' recommendations that younger children should not have drinks sweetened with sugar or NSS, and they should only be given unsweetened food. But the group of experts say that for older children 'swapping sugars for NSS may help reduce sugar intake from foods and drinks (and so reduce energy intake), at least in the short term – the long-term goal is to limit both sugar and NSS intake'. Commenting on the recommendations, Naveed Sattar, professor of cardiometabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said: 'I think this is a very balanced statement. 'SACN have accepted that the best quality evidence available (ie randomised trials) show that non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) lower weight albeit modestly as compared to taking sugar rich drinks and that other types of evidence which suggest some harm from NSS are unreliable. 'I fully agree and would rather people take low calorie drinks with artificial sweeteners every time than sugar rich drinks both for weight and dental benefits and potentially other gains. 'However, SACN also correctly points out that until we have more evidence in the future on benefits and safety of NSS, it would be best to limit the intake of all such sweetened (including NSS) drinks in early childhood so that children become accustomed to drinking unsweetened drinks, preferably water.' Dr Hilda Mulrooney, reader in nutrition and health at London Metropolitan University, added: 'Recommendations were already – and have been for several years – that ideally young children should not drink squash – milk or water are the best options. 'Sugar sweetened squash is not recommended due to the sugar content but even sweetened with NSS, it enhances preferences for sweet tastes in children which can be hard to overcome.' Prof Robin May, chief scientific adviser for the Food Standards Agency (FSA), said: 'We welcome SACN's advice on the consumption of non-sugar sweeteners and their call for further research. 'All sweeteners approved for use in foods in GB have been subject to a rigorous risk assessment before being authorised and the FSA maintains strict oversight of these products. 'We strongly support SACN's call for industry to make data on the quantity of these sweeteners in their ingredients publicly available to provide better information on how much people are consuming and to help inform our assessments of these ingredients.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This government is committed to turning the tide on obesity and we have already taken bold action to block fast-food outlets near schools, alongside further measures to crack down on child-targeted junk food advertising on TV and online. 'These are just the first steps we'll take as we shift the focus from sickness to prevention to deliver our Plan for Change and meet our ambition of raising the healthiest generation of children ever.'
