 The guideline recommends that both adults and children reduce the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.A reduction to below 5% of total energy intake brings additional health benefits, especially with regards to dental caries.The principal definition of free sugars was to split the term "carbohydrate" into elements that relate more directly to the impact on health rather than a chemical definition, and followed on from meta-studies relating to chronic disease, obesity, and dental decay.