On Thursday, March 26, 2026, as part of the parliamentary niche of the group Les démocrates, facing “health emergency”, deputies unanimously adopted the bill aimed at banning added sugars in food for infants and young children. In 2023, the national association for consumer and user defense CLCV had conducted a study on 207 food products for children under 3 years old. Their finding: nutritional and “health” claims were made for products that were very sugary. The association then pointed to a European regulation that was outdated and too permissive compared to the requirements set by the World Health Organization. Deputy Cyrille Isaac-Sibille, the originator of the bill, explained that he wanted to “send a political signal to put the issue of added sugars in infant nutrition on the European agenda.” During the examination of the text, Health Minister Stéphanie Rist joined the deputies “in the interest of protecting children and improving their nutrition.” However, the text provides that a decree, issued after consultation with Anses, will draw up a list of food preparations excluded from this ban, determining the maximum level of added sugars in these products. An exception that was criticized by several left-wing deputies. “This leaves loopholes that industrials will not fail to exploit,” protested ecologist Sabrina Sebaihi. Today, nearly 5% of children are considered obese and 6% of the population receives medication for diabetes. In light of this, what is the impact of sugar on our health and should its consumption be regulated?
Guests: – Aurélien Rousseau, socialist deputy from Yvelines and former Minister of Health and Prevention – Xavier Iacovelli, senator of “Renaissance” from Hauts de Seine and vice-president of the Senate – Amine Benyamina, psychiatrist and president of the French Federation of Addictology
“Every Voice Counts”, your daily meeting that takes the pulse of society: a debate, hosted by Adeline François, directly addressing political, parliamentary, social, or economic current events. A crossroads of opinions where ministers, deputies, local elected officials, experts, and personalities from civil society make their voices heard.
