What is the main concern regarding Labour's sugar crackdown?

The main concern is that the proposed sugar crackdown might lead food manufacturers to remove natural ingredients like fruit and vegetable purees from products, replacing them with artificial sweeteners.

How could the sugar crackdown affect pasta sauces and yogurts?

Supermarket bosses warn that pasta sauces could have their tomato paste removed, and yogurts could lose their fruit purees under the proposed sugar crackdown rules.

Why are food industry leaders concerned about the new sugar classification?

Industry leaders are concerned that the new classification system for 'free sugars' could result in products with lower nutritional density and make it harder for consumers to meet their daily recommended intake of fruits and vegetables.

Home / Health / Sugar crackdown could strip fruit from sauces

Sugar crackdown could strip fruit from sauces

1 Feb

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Summary

New sugar rules might cause removal of fruit from yogurts.
Pasta sauces could lose tomato paste due to proposed changes.
Artificial sweeteners may replace natural fruit and vegetable purees.

Sugar crackdown could strip fruit from sauces

Proposed government plans to classify 'free sugars' – including those from pureed fruits and vegetables – alongside salt and saturated fats could prompt food manufacturers to remove natural ingredients. Industry leaders warn this sugar crackdown may encourage the replacement of fruit purees in yogurts and tomato paste in pasta sauces with artificial sweeteners. This shift is part of Labour's broader strategy to combat obesity and update junk food advertising regulations.

Food industry representatives, including those from Marks & Spencer and Mars Food & Nutrition, have voiced strong opposition, calling the plans 'nonsensical' and potentially harmful. They argue that such changes could lead to products with lower nutritional density and might inadvertently make it more challenging for the UK population to meet their 'five-a-day' fruit and vegetable targets. Retailers like Asda also anticipate customer confusion and a setback in achieving healthier sales goals.