Tesco HALVES sugar content in own-brand fizzy drinks to help tackle obesity
TESCO has slashed the amount sugar in its fizzy drinks to help combat the spiralling obesity crisis.
The supermarket giant has halved the sugar content in its own brand products ahead of the introduction of the controversial sugar tax.
It comes as new figures reveal the childhood obesity crisis in the UK has reached "crisis point", with experts declaring increasing rates a national "state of emergency".
In some parts of England almost one in three schoolkids in year six are considered overweight or obese, while the average across the country is one in five.
All 251 of Tesco's own-brand soft drinks now have below 5g of sugar per 100ml, meeting government recommendations - which is expected to be introduced in 2018.
The supermarket have reduced the amount of salt, fat and sugar in more than 4,200 own-brand products so far and plan to do the same for 1,000 more products each year for the next three years.
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Tesco chief exec Matt Davies said: "This is just one part of our plans to make the food on our shelves healthier by reducing levels of sugar, salt and fat in our own brands.
"We have worked to make sure our soft drinks still taste great, just with less sugar.
"Tesco customers are now consuming on average over 20 per cent less sugar from our soft drinks than in 2011.
"We're hoping this initiative will help make it a little easier for our customers to live more healthily."
What is the sugar tax:?
The 'sugar tax' was announced earlier this year and will encourage manufacturers to reformulate their products to contain less sugar or pay more in tax.
It's expected to come into force in April 2018, with drinks with sugar content above 5g per 100ml taxed at 18p per litre and and over 8g per 100ml 24p per litre.
The money raised will go towards developing sports programmes in schools across England as the government try to prevent childhood obesity.
Lucozade is the worst offender with 62g of sugar in a 500ml bottle, and Coca-Cola a close second with 53g of sugar per 500ml.
Public health minister Nicola Blackwood added: "It is great to see Tesco leading the field by reducing the level of sugar in their own brand drinks.
"It is proof that taking added sugar out of drinks is both possible and in line with what customers want.
"The Government's sugar levy is designed to encourage manufacturers to cut the sugar from their products before the levy comes into force in 2018.
"Responsible actions like this are so important in our fight against childhood obesity."
The controversial sugar tax has been backed by charities and bodies across the UK who say the levy will not only help cut obesity levels, and associated diseases including cancer and heart disease, but it will also help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Chief executive of Diabetes UK Chris Askew urged other retailers to follow in Tesco's footsteps.
He said: "Helping customers lead healthier lives by reducing sugar in its own brand soft drinks is a welcome move by Tesco.
"Similar action from other manufacturers and retailers to make products lower in sugar, saturated fat and salt is vital to tackle rising rates of obesity in the UK.
"Making the healthy choice the easy choice for all of us will help to tackle the rapidly rising number of people developing type 2 diabetes."
Jenna Hall, programme director for the National Charity Partnership, added: “An unhealthy diet can increase the risk of a number of health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, so reducing the amount of sugar we consume can help to make a big difference to our lives in the long-term.
"However, it’s important that we help people continue to think about how they can improve their diet.
"We’re working directly with families to support them to make changes to their lifestyles and encourage them to do what they can to prevent type 2 diabetes and heart and circulatory disease in the future.”
Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, also welcomed the move.
He said: "Research has shown being overweight can significantly increase your risk of heart and circulatory disease, so finding ways to tackle the rising levels of obesity is crucial.
"We're delighted Tesco has taken this positive step towards reducing our sugar intake and making it easier for shoppers to make more heart healthy choices."
Tesco's new reduced sugar drinks range will hit supermarket shelves from Friday November 11.
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