Updated added sugars consumption trends in Canada

On May 28, 2026, Statistics Canada released their annual loss-adjusted¹ food availability data for 2025, including updated data on sugars, syrups, and soft drinks. This can be used 1) to estimate the availability of added sugars in Canada and 2) as a proxy to monitor trends in per capita (per person) added sugars consumption in Canada. 

• Trend in Added Sugars Consumption: Estimated average added sugars² consumption in Canada has shown a gradual declining trend over the past twenty years (see graph below). 
• Per Capita Consumption in 2025: In 2025, estimated per capita added sugars consumption in Canada accounted for 10.5% of energy intake (see graph below). 
• Decline in Added Sugars: There has been a 15% per capita reduction in added sugars consumption based on % energy intake over the past twenty years.
• Impact of Soft Drinks Availability: The largest contributor to the overall decline in added sugars is the continued decline in soft drinks availability, down 59% compared to 2005 (data not shown).
• Comparison of Sugars Intakes to Obesity Rates in Canada: While food availability data shows a gradual decline in added sugars intake in Canada, the concurrent rise in obesity rates highlights the importance of focusing dietary strategies on total eating patterns rather than single ingredients (see graph below). 

1. An adjustment factor has been applied to account for losses that occur in distribution, storage, preparation, and consumption (e.g., discarded or spoiled) of added sugars containing foods and beverages.
2. Total added sugars estimated from Statistics Canada data on refined sugar, maple sugar, honey, and soft drinks (estimated sugars content).

Relevant Resources Available for Download: 

CSI is pleased to offer two resources sharing up to date sugars consumption data in Canada from both market availability sources and analysis of Canadian Community Health Survey data for adults and children:

For more information on Sugars Consumption in Canada:

• CSI Webpage: Consumption of Sugars in Canada
• Wang YF, et al. Trends in Loss-Adjusted Availability of Added Sugars and Energy Contribution from Macronutrients and Major Food Groups in Canada and the United States. Journal of the American Nutrition Association. 2022; 42:5, 459-468
• Wang YF, et al. Canadian Adults with Moderate Intakes of Total Sugars have Greater Intakes of Fibre and Key Micronutrients: Results from the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015 Public Use Microdata File. Nutrients. 2020 Apr 17;12(4):E1124. 
• Chiavaroli L, et al. Intakes of nutrients and food categories in Canadian children and adolescents across levels of sugars intake: Cross-sectional analyses of the Canadian Community Health Survey 2015 Public Use Microdata File. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2022 Jan. 
• Newens KJ & Walton J. A review of sugar consumption from nationally representative dietary surveys across the world. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2015. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12338