Sugarwise
Sugarwise is the international certification authority for sugar claims on food and drink. It assesses foods and beverages on the basis of their sugar claims.[1]
Formation | 2016 |
---|---|
Founder | Rend Platings |
Type | Certification body |
Headquarters | Cambridge |
Region | England |
Fields | Nutrition, Health |
Website | sugarwise |
The authority certifies and allows use of its logo on products with no more than 5g of free sugars in 100g in a food or 2.5g of free sugars in 100ml in a beverage, that can also carry a sugar claim.[1] The low free sugar standard is derived from the World Health Organisation guidelines for daily intake of free sugars.[2]
The Sugarwise Test
The Sugarwise test distinguishes between free sugars and intrinsic sugars in a food or drink product for the first time[3] and was developed by Cambridge University Scientists.[3][4]
Sugarwise adheres to the WHO guidelines on free sugar content:[5] "Free sugars include monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates."[2]
Policy and Public Affairs
#DontTaxHealthy
Sugarwise was one of the two organisations behind the #DontTaxHealthy campaign to cut VAT on healthy food[6] and continues to lobby for tax breaks on low sugar food and drink.[1]
Parliamentary Engagement
Sugarwise has held Summits at the UK Houses of Parliament, chaired by Keith Vaz[7] in his capacity as Chair of the APPG for Diabetes, in a bid to promote lower-sugar food and drink and help tackle the growing threat of obesity and diabetes.[8] Sugarwise's Patron is Lord Clive Brooke, Baron Brooke of Alverthorpe.[9]
A Summit at the European parliament was convened in September 2017[10] supported by Alex Mayer. This called for tariffs to be removed for healthier food and drink across the EU post Brexit[1] And was followed by a third summit at the UK Houses of Parliament on 13 September 2017.[11]
History
Sugarwise was launched in March 2016[12][13] with the assistance of Enterprise Europe Network.[14] Mother-of-one Rend Platings founded the organisation[15] after hearing England's chief medical officer's revelation that, as a result of obesity, today's generation of parents may be the first to outlive their children.[16]
The Sugarwise logo was developed by design firm Pemberton & Whitefoord (P&W)[17] with the support of Tesco.[18]
The first product to be certified was JimJams reduced-sugar chocolate spread.[19][13]
In July 2017 Sugarwise certified "Sugar Free" recipes magazine sold in UK supermarkets.[20]
References
- "Healthiest products should be tariff-free post Brexit, says Sugarwise". FoodNavigator.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- "WHO - WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children". WHO. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- "Labels To Help Identify Added Sugar In Foods". Sky News. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- "Cambridge: New app to show how much sugar is in food". ITV News.
- Rend Platings (15 February 2016), Rend Platings BBC News 130216 1726, retrieved 9 October 2017
- "A sugar tax 'won't solve the obesity crisis'. Here's why". The Independent. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- "The UK Sugar Summit". Alliance for Natural Health International. 19 October 2016.
- "Sugar rush – industry leaders to swarm Parliamentary summit - Business Weekly - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England". www.businessweekly.co.uk.
- "Announcement of Lord Brooke's Patronage by CEO of Sugarwise". www.linkedin.com.
- "The Sugar Summit in Brussels #SugarSummit". Eventbrite.
- "Netmums and Sugarwise survey reveals parents' "struggle to find low sugar foods in-store" | Cost Sector Catering". costsectorcatering.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- "New Nutrition Business Development". www.new-nutrition.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
- Sugarwise. "Rend Platings Sky News 110316 0939". Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via YouTube.
- "Innovation coaching helps UK firms to thrive in European markets". GOV.UK. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
- Sugarwise. "Rend Platings on BBC Inside Out on 15th February 16 1930 Sugarwise". Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via YouTube.
- Malhotra, Aseem (31 October 2016). "Sugar Is the New Tobacco, so Let's Treat It That Way". Medscape. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
- "Sugarwise marque to launch across Europe". Packaging News. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
- "Tesco helps mum create low sugar food certification brand". www.campaignlive.co.uk.
- "Reduced-sugar spreads brand JimJams gains 'landmark' listing". 24 July 2016.
- Croce, Maria (25 July 2017). "Reducing Sugar Intake Is Sweet Deal for Health". Daily Record.