Kellogg’s reduces sugar in cereal bars
Kellogg’s has become the latest company to cut the amount of sugar in its snack products sold in the UK, by changing the recipe for three of its cereal and milk bars.
Coco Pops Bars have been reduced by 24% from 8.4g to 6.4g sugar per 20g bar, while Frosties and Rice Krispies bars by 19 per cent, from 8g to 6.5g sugar per 25g bar and from 7.2g to 5.8g sugar per 20g bar respectively.
As part of the recipe change the cereal and snacks company says it has also added vitamin D and extra fibre to the products.
Kellogg’s has an ongoing programme to reduce sugar in its food which will see it remove 2,000 tonnes of sugar from the nation’s diet by the end of 2017.
Dr Alexa Hoyland, senior UK nutrition manager, says, “This reformulation is part of Kellogg’s commitment to giving people more of what they want and need, like fibre and added vitamins and minerals and less of what they don’t, like salt and sugar.
“We know parents want to give their children tasty snacks that are better nutritionally. That’s why we are reducing the sugar and increasing the fibre whilst keeping the great taste of these bars. We also want to provide opportunities for parents to give their children the vital nutrient, vitamin D, which we know children are not getting enough of.”
According to the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, vitamin D intake in British children is four times below the recommended amount and children eat 30% less fibre than they need.
These new recipe cereal and milk bars are now on sale across the UK.
In April, Nestlé UK and Ireland released two new versions of its Rowntree’s Fruit Pastilles and Rowntree’s Randoms with 30% less sugar. As part of the recipe change, the sugar removed has been replaced by increasing the fibre content in these new versions.
Earlier this month, Action on Sugar released its six-point manifesto, in which it called on the next government to extend the soft drinks levy to confectionery. A mandatory sugar levy on all confectionery products that contain high levels of sugar to ensure maximum impact, the sugar group says, will help tackle rising obesity and type 2 diabetes levels.
