Nestlé has announced it is to remove an estimated 59 million teaspoons of sugar and three million teaspoons of salt from its products.
By the end of 2021, there will be up to 16 per cent less sugar and 50 per cent less salt across Coco Shreddies, Frosted Shreddies, Honey Cheerios, Nesquik, Cookie Crisp and Golden Nuggets.
The company has been following a staggered ‘salami slice’ approach, resulting in the gradual, small reductions of salt and sugar across all products between 2010 and 2020.
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The changes are part of a longer-term reformulation for the business and mean the products no longer have any red traffic lights under the government’s front of pack labelling scheme.
For instance, Nesquik is moving from amber to green traffic light for salt and from a red to amber traffic light for sugar respectively.
Coco Shreddies, Frosted Shreddies, Honey Cheerios, Nesquik, Cookie Crisp and Golden Nuggets will also join Shredded Wheat, Shreddies Original and Multigrain Cheerios, in being classified as non-high in fat, sugar and salt (non-HFSS), in line with the government’s nutrient profiling model.
“The sugar and salt reductions we’ve achieved this year are evidence of our long-term commitment and ambitious plans to improve the nutritional value of our cereals,” Cereal Partners worldwide vice president UK & Oceania Gharry Eccles said.
“Our journey began in 2003, and our priority has been to maintain the same great taste consumers know and love, while simultaneously providing options that are convenient, affordable and nutritious.
“I’m pleased with the strides we have made as a business. There’s no doubt this is a significant milestone for us, and we are committed to playing our part in encouraging healthier lifestyles in the UK.”
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