Co-op food stores, following advice from charity Diabetes UK will be withdrawing diabetic food from its shelves from today .Diabetes UK had long advocated the disuse of diabetic food which they say are costly and fatty, besides offer no nutritional benefit.
Squash drinks, chocolates, jam and marmalade specially made for diabetics will be withdrawn from around 380 Co-op food stores and pharmacies from today. According to the Co-op such products aren't required because diabetics should be following the same healthy eating advice just as everyone else. This week will see the start of the phasing out of some of the diabetic foods.In 2002 the Diabetes UK and Food Standards Agency had issued a statement saying people with diabetes did not need special foods. Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production from the pancreas to remove glucose from the blood , resulting in high blood levels of glucose.
Diabetes UK Care Advisor Zoe Harrison, who wants other stores to follow the Co-op's lead, said: 'These foods do not contain sugar so people may think that labelling them as "suitable for diabetics" means it's OK to eat large quantities. However, diabetic foods are also high in fat and are therefore inadvisable in large quantities for people with or without diabetes.
'They also contain sweeteners which affect blood glucose levels in much the same way as sugar, and therefore offer no nutritional benefit.'
