Sugar

The soft drinks levy has been a catalyst for innovation and growth

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Soft Drinks Levy driving innovation and growth

By Gwen Ridler

The Soft Drinks Industry Levy – AKA the Sugar Levy – has been a catalyst for growth in the soft drinks industry, but growth of sugary drinks in the out of home market suggests more could be done to educate retailers and consumers of sugar-free alternatives.

Food waste, sugar and animal welfare were the top concerns among consumers

Food waste top concern among British consumers

By Gwen Ridler

Food waste, sugar and animal welfare were among the top concerns for British consumers when buying food, according to a new report from the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Intakes of added and free sugar should stay as low as possible, according to EFSA

Sugar intake levels in line with current recommendations

By Gwen Ridler

Intakes of added and free sugar should be as low as possible – in line with current recommendations – for a nutritionally adequate diet, according to a new report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The pay dispute at British Sugar has sparked a ballot for strike action by Unite members

Unite threatens strike action at British Sugar

By Gwen Ridler

Industrial action has been threatened across British Sugar’s factories in the east of England, after members of worker union Unite rejected a ‘not so sweet’ pay offer from the manufacturer.

Maltodrextrin has a significant impact on a person’s metabolism, Speleers claims

High-GI sugar alternatives are ‘misleading’ consumers

By Noli Dinkovski

The approach by some food and drink manufacturers to replace sugar with high-glycaemic alternatives is “borderline misleading” to consumers, the director of a global ingredients company has claimed.

Kellogg announced plans to cut the sugar content of three of its top children’s cereals

Kellogg cuts sugar in top three children’s cereals

By Gwen Ridler

Kellogg has revealed plans to cut the sugar content of three of its top selling children’s breakfast cereals by up to 40% by the end of next year, as it drops cereals high in sugar from the range.

SACN’s advice is for the first year of life

Give babies iron and calcium from six months: science body

By Noli Dinkovski

Complementary foods for babies should be encouraged from around six months of age and should include iron- and calcium-containing foods, a draft report from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has recommended.

Cereal manufacturers were 'refusing to be transparent' by avoiding colour-coded front of pack nutrition labels, claimed Action on Sugar

Most manufacturers ‘go beyond labelling obligation’

By Matt Atherton

Most food manufacturers go beyond their legal obligation to provide clear nutrition labelling, says the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), after claims manufacturers were “deliberately deceiving” shoppers by not using colour-coded labels on cereal packaging.

Nestlé plans a 10% reduction in sugar in its breakfast cereals by 2018

Nestlé plans cereal sugar cuts by 10%

By Gwen Ridler

Nestlé plans to cut sugar in its breakfast cereals by a further 10% by the end of 2018, as it continues to reformulate across its product portfolio.

The BMA has called for health warnings to be introduced on sugary food packaging

‘More work needed’ after kids’ sugary food ad ban

By Matt Atherton

The ban on adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) was only the first step in reducing childhood obesity, claimed pressure group Sustain, while doctors have called for health warnings on sugary food packaging.

The sweetener is made from stevia and dietary fibres, and contains no alcoholic sugars

Natural sweetener is suitable for diabetics

By Noli Dinkovski

A natural sweetener claimed to copy the flavour and ‘mouthfeel’ of sugar while still acting as a bulking agent will be available later this year.

Nestlé has cut the sugar content of its Kit Kat chocolate bar

Nestlé cuts 1,000t of sugar from Kit Kat range

By Gwen Ridler

Food giant Nestlé is set to release its new lower sugar Kit Kat chocolate bar which it claims will cut 1,000t of sugar from the UK’s diet, following its pledge to cut sugar in all of its confectionery earlier this month. 

Professor Buttriss: ‘Sugar intakes are deemed too high’

Sugar reduction aims thwarted by sweetener confusion

By Judy Buttriss

Sugar does more than sweeten foods – it provides bulk and has functional attributes that are difficult to replicate, such as moisture management and shelf-life, texture and flavour generation.

Sugar replacer Avanté is claimed to replicate the functionality of sugar in savoury food

Starch sugar-replacer has no taste impact

By Noli Dinkovski

A new starch can reduce sugar content in savoury foods by up to 30% without impacting on quality, texture or taste, its maker has claimed.

The soft drinks tax is driving the pace of reformulation to reduce sugar

Drinks brands compete on sweetness

By Paul Gander

The looming sugar tax is accentuating differences among drinks manufacturers over how sweetness levels can be achieved and – in some cases – what those levels should be.

Sugar reduction research and development is eligible for tax relief

Tax relief is available to aid research into sugar reduction

By Noli Dinkovski

Companies that plan to reformulate their products in the run up to the sugar tax and voluntary reduction targets are likely to be eligible for tax relief on research and development (R&D) costs, a specialist in the field has advised.

Rabobank: The end of the EU sugar production quota will not necessarily guarantee a low price

Consider longer-term sugar contracts: report

By Noli Dinkovski

Food and drink producers should consider longer-term sugar purchasing contracts, or switch to sweeteners, before the EU sugar quota ends in October 2017, a report has claimed.

FDF has released a new sugar reformulation guide for SMEs

Sugar reformulation guide released by FDF

By Gwen Ridler

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has released a free reformulation guide for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), designed to help them reduce the sugar content in their products.

Monk fruit: low-calorie sweeteners will be made from the ingredient as part of the deal

ADM in low-calorie sweetener tie-up

By Noli Dinkovski

A new partnership to manufacture, market, sell and distribute low-calorie stevia and monk fruit sweeteners globally has been agreed between two leading ingredients firms.

Nichols' relaunch of sugar-free brands will include the feel Good range of soft drinks

Nichols plans relaunch of sugar-free drinks range

By Gwen Ridler

Nichols announced a relaunch of its sugar-free brands this summer, following the news of the tax on sugary drinks, and predicted earnings would be in line with expectations.

Beneo adds translucent gum coating

Beneo adds translucent gum coating

By Noli Dinkovski

A coating process that gives chewing gum extra translucence and shine while maintaining its shelf-life has been introduced by ingredients maker Beneo.

Tesco's Tim Smith revealed the retailer is to roll out sugar reduction targets to its own-label suppliers

Tesco to slash sugar content in more children’s food

By Rick Pendrous

Tesco is to roll out sugar reduction targets to its own-label suppliers in new categories of food and drink in the New Year, following the success it has achieved in healthier reformulation of children’s soft drinks, its group quality director Tim Smith...

Sweet to sour: interest in sugary products is waning in favour of sour flavours

FIE reports

Euro consumers more interested in low sugar products

By Michael Stones

European consumers’ appetite for sugary foods is waning in favour of low-sugar products, according to new Mintel research revealed at the Food Ingredients Europe show in Paris.

Action on Sugar has called for a six-point plan to beat obesity and type 2 diabetes

Sugar tax

Gov should adopt our six-point obesity plan: AoS

By Laurence Gibbons

Action on Sugar has launched a six-step “evidence-based” action plan to prevent the UK’s obesity and type 2 diabetes crisis from spiralling out of control.

Spotlight

Chief executive Chris Ormrod will continue to head up the business. Credit: Cakesmiths Cakesmiths to become part of rebranded Onore Food Group The impacted batch of stuffing mix has now been taken out of circulation. Credit: Getty / DronG Tesco recalls stuffing mix because of possible presence of moths The Food and drink industry is the four fastest adopter of AI tech in the UK. Image: Getty, Da-Kuk Food industry fourth fastest adopter of AI tech in UK Cold store workers have previously suffered from serious injuries such as frostbite. Credit: Getty / bluecinema New guidance issued to protect food workers in extreme cold conditions The manufacturer installed solar panels at its facility as part of the project. Credit: Beacon Foods Beacon Foods completes £6m expansion project, installs 1,428 solar panels

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