IT'S a childhood fantasy - a bulging Willy Wonka-inspired showbag of Chewy Gobstoppers, Fabulicious Bubblegum, a Wonka Sourlicious and other sweet treats. A perfect finish to a day at the Royal Easter Show, or its new competitor, the Sydney Family Show.
The trouble is, these kilojoule bombs may not be doing any favours for young Augustus Gloops.
Paediatric dietitian Susie Burrell from The Children's Hospital at Westmead analysed several showbags and found many of them contained huge amounts of sugar and fat.
Some of the lolly bags contained more sweets than Ms Burrell would normally recommend children eat in a year.
One of the worst for sugar was the Snakes Alive bag with a total of 75 teaspoons of sugar, equivalent to more than eight cans of soft drink. The Regular Wonka Showbag had 58 teaspoons of sugar. The Nestle bag had the equivalent of 60 teaspoons.
Aside from the sugar content, Ms Burrell said many of the sweets contained food additives such as sunset yellow (colour additive number 110), tartrazine (102), and allura red (129), which were linked to hyperactivity in a 2007 study published in The Lancet.
She advised parents to limit the number of food showbags to just one or two per child, and choose chocolate or chips rather than lollies. The smaller bags with mini-sized treats were best.
"Chocolate is chocolate - at least you know what's in it. And it's not as easily over-consumed as lollies," Ms Burrell said. "The smaller the bag, the better. And ration out the treats," she said.
Nutritionist Rosemary Stanton said the sheer variety and size of showbags containing essentially junk food was symptomatic of a society which viewed excess as normal.
Consumption of chocolate Easter eggs weeks before and after Easter did not help.
"Treats used to be small and occasional and very special," Ms Stanton said. "We don't have small amounts of anything but we have an excess of everything. That's why we have an obesity problem."
While parents need to keep a close eye on showbags, the day itself need not be a nutritional disaster zone of dagwood dogs and fairy floss. Royal Easter Show spokeswoman Philippa Lampe said in recent years there had been more emphasis on displaying fresh, healthy produce that visitors could also eat.
The Woolworths Fresh Food Dome at the Easter Show had fruit salad and cheese toasted sandwiches, while the Graze alfresco dining area had Asian stir-fries, paella, Indian curries and pasta. The Sydney Royal Deli showcased regional cheeses, olives and dips. A spokesman for the Sydney Family Show, at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park, said that organisers were encouraging visitors to use the existing cafes and restaurants adjacent to the show site.
Inside
Your Sydney Family Show guide
WHAT'S IN THE BAG ...
Regular Wonka: $12
Contents Gobstoppers, Bubblegum, Raspberry Twister, Sourlicious, Nerds Rope and other confectionary.
Kilojoules 6200
Fat 4g
Total carbohydrate 350g
Sugar 290g
(58 teaspoons)
Dietitian says "Entire daily kilojoule intake for a child. Entirely sugar and colours."
Snakes Alive: $12
Contents Snakes Alive, Killer Python, lollipops, Bertie Beetles, Fruit Tingles and other confectionary.
Kilojoules 10,500
Fat 15g
Total carbohydrate 555g
Sugar 375g
(75 teaspoons)
Dietitian says "Ridiculous quantities of high-energy, high-sugar food."
Cadbury Favourites: $12.50
Contents Box of Cadbury Favourites plus four bite-sized Dairy Milk chocolate bars and six assorted bite-sized bars.
Kilojoules 8460
Fat 109g
Total carbohydrate 265g
Sugar 230g
(46 teaspoons)
Dietitian says "More than two days' worth of fat, mostly saturated."
Nestle Sensational Show Stopper: $12
Contents Fruit Tingles, Bertie Beetles, Redskin Sticks, lollipops and other confectionary.
Kilojoules 8800
Fat 69g
Total carbohydrate 350g
Sugar 300g
(60 teaspoons)
Dietitian says "Contains more kilojoules than an adult needs for a day."
... AND SOME TIPS FOR THE BIG DAY OUT
Give children water to drink during the day, not soft drink, bring sandwiches and healthy snacks.
Choose showbags in advance (they are listed on the show website, www.eastershow.com.au).
Don't be tempted to buy extra showbags at discount prices. Favour toy bags over food bags.
Choose small chocolate or chip showbags with mini-size treats rather than jumbo bags.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
How much sugar is in popular showbags like the Regular Wonka, Snakes Alive and Nestle showbag?
Some popular showbags are extremely high in sugar: the Snakes Alive showbag contains about 375g of sugar (around 75 teaspoons) and 10,500 kJ; the Regular Wonka showbag has about 290g of sugar (58 teaspoons) and 6,200 kJ; and the Nestle Sensational Show Stopper contains about 300g of sugar (60 teaspoons) and 8,800 kJ. These figures come from a dietitian analysis cited in the article.
Are showbags unhealthy for children and do they contribute to obesity?
Many showbags are high in sugar, kilojoules and sometimes fat, and the article quotes experts who say the size and variety of junk-food showbags reflects a culture of excess that contributes to obesity. Paediatric dietitian Susie Burrell found some bags contain more sweets than she would recommend a child eat in a year.
Which showbag in the article had the highest kilojoule and sugar totals?
The Snakes Alive showbag had the highest totals reported: about 10,500 kJ and 375g of sugar (approximately 75 teaspoons). The dietitian in the article described it as containing 'ridiculous quantities of high-energy, high-sugar food.'
Do showbag sweets contain food additives that might affect children’s behaviour?
Yes. The article notes many sweets contain colour additives such as sunset yellow (110), tartrazine (102) and allura red (129). These additives were linked to hyperactivity in a 2007 study published in The Lancet, according to the article.
What practical tips does the article offer for choosing healthier showbags and limiting sugar?
Experts recommend limiting children to one or two showbags, choosing chocolate or chip showbags instead of lollies, favouring smaller bags with mini-sized treats, and rationing the treats over time. The article also suggests favouring toy bags over food bags and choosing showbags in advance via the show website.
Are chocolate showbags a better option than lollies according to the experts in the article?
According to paediatric dietitian Susie Burrell in the article, chocolate can be a better choice because 'chocolate is chocolate — at least you know what's in it' and it's generally not as easily over‑consumed as lollies. However, moderation and smaller portions are still recommended.
What healthier food and dining options are available at the Royal Easter Show?
The article reports the Royal Easter Show has placed more emphasis on fresh, healthy produce. Examples include the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome offering fruit salad and cheese toasted sandwiches, the Graze alfresco dining area with Asian stir‑fries, paella, Indian curries and pasta, and the Sydney Royal Deli showcasing regional cheeses, olives and dips.
What practical items should parents bring to the show to avoid a nutritional disaster on the day?
The article suggests bringing water (not soft drink), sandwiches and healthy snacks, choosing showbags in advance via the show website, avoiding impulse buys of discounted extra showbags, and preferring small chocolate or chip bags with mini treats or toy bags instead of large lolly bags.
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