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]

Sugarwise
Formation2016
FounderRend Platings
TypeCertification body
HeadquartersCambridge
Region
England
FieldsNutrition, Health
Websitesugarwise.org

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 Organization 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
  1. "Healthiest products should be tariff-free post Brexit, says Sugarwise". FoodNavigator.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  2. "WHO - WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children". WHO. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  3. "Labels To Help Identify Added Sugar In Foods". Sky News. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. "Cambridge: New app to show how much sugar is in food". ITV News.
  5. Rend Platings (15 February 2016), Rend Platings BBC News 130216 1726, retrieved 9 October 2017
  6. "A sugar tax 'won't solve the obesity crisis'. Here's why". The Independent. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  7. "The UK Sugar Summit". Alliance for Natural Health International. 19 October 2016.
  8. "Sugar rush – industry leaders to swarm Parliamentary summit - Business Weekly - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England". www.businessweekly.co.uk.
  9. "Announcement of Lord Brooke's Patronage by CEO of Sugarwise". www.linkedin.com.
  10. "The Sugar Summit in Brussels #SugarSummit". Eventbrite.
  11. "Netmums and Sugarwise survey reveals parents' "struggle to find low sugar foods in-store" | Cost Sector Catering". costsectorcatering.co.uk. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  12. "New Nutrition Business Development". www.new-nutrition.com. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  13. Sugarwise. "Rend Platings Sky News 110316 0939". Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via YouTube.
  14. "Innovation coaching helps UK firms to thrive in European markets". GOV.UK. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  15. Sugarwise. "Rend Platings on BBC Inside Out on 15th February 16 1930 Sugarwise". Retrieved 23 December 2018 – via YouTube.
  16. Malhotra, Aseem (31 October 2016). "Sugar Is the New Tobacco, so Let's Treat It That Way". Medscape. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  17. "Sugarwise marque to launch across Europe". Packaging News. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  18. "Tesco helps mum create low sugar food certification brand". www.campaignlive.co.uk.
  19. "Reduced-sugar spreads brand JimJams gains 'landmark' listing". 24 July 2016.
  20. Croce, Maria (25 July 2017). "Reducing Sugar Intake Is Sweet Deal for Health". Daily Record.
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