Drink manufacturers promise to cut sugar content

Over in the UK, food and drink manufacturers have pledge to cut the sugar content in their products. This comes ahead of a decision by the British government in relation to a sugar tax levy designed to curb childhood obesity.

Companies such as Kellogg’s and Coca-Cola have vowed to introduce a series of “unprecedented” which they claim will help reduce Britain’s sugar consumption by a fifth.

Here are some points from a recent article on the topic:

• The measures include promises to avoid targeting the under-16s, as well as introducing smaller, healthier products.
• Even though Coca-Cola has vowed to reduce levels of sugar in its products, it’s believed that its signature product – Coke – will not be undergoing any changes in relation to sugar content.
• It has been estimated a 20 per cent sugar tax could raise up to a £1bn a year.
• Kellogg’s says it will cut 723 tons of sugar next year from all its cereals, such as Frosties and Coco Pops, by 2016 — although it would not specify any proportions.
• Levels in Frosties and Coco Pops are about 35 per cent and it is thought they will aim to get them below 20 per cent.
• The makers of Lucozade and Ribena are aiming to cut sugar by ten per cent by 2018, and 20 per cent by 2025 or sooner.
• Other soft drink giants such as Pepsi and Britvic will also ban TV adverts aimed at children and billboards near schools will also be scrapped.
• Coca-Cola, which owns a range of soft including Lilt and Sprite, is part of an industry-wide pledge to cut sugar consumption by 20 per cent before 2020 but the company — which cut the calories in its drinks by five per cent in 2014 — is only promising another five per cent drop over the next nine years.
• It is reported that the seven teaspoons of sugar currently in the Coca Cola’s best selling red 330ml Coke can will stay the same.

Follow the link to read the full article.