A committee of scientific experts is expected to urge the government to halve the recommended daily intake of sugar, in final guidance on Friday.
Government advisers in England are set to recommend that no more than 5% of daily calories should come from added sugar – about seven level teaspoons.
The guidelines are in line with new World Health Organization proposals.
According to existing research, all age groups in the UK consume at least twice this limit.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), which advises Public Health England and other government agencies on nutrition, is expected to call for the recommended daily intake of sugar to be halved to reduce obesity risk and improve dental health.
In a draft report last year, the committee said sugars should make up no more than 10% of energy intake and that people and governments should be aiming for 5%.
The main sources of refined sugars in the diet are sweetened drinks and cereal, confectionery, fruit juice and sugar added at the table.
A single can of fizzy drink contains about nine teaspoons of sugar.
The British Dental Association (BDA) has called on the government to take heed of the latest advice.
Tooth decay is the biggest cause of hospital admissions among young children.
Mick Armstrong, chairman of the BDA, said: “We have an historic opportunity here to end Britain’s addiction to sugar.
“The government now has the evidence and a clear duty to send the strongest possible signal to the food industry that while added sugar might be helping their sales, it is hurting their customers.”
The food industry has said calories in household foods and drinks have been gradually lowered in recent years, including sugar reductions and changes to portion sizes, reports the BBC.
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