The cut will remove up to 7,500t of sugar from its products, according to the food giant. The manufacturer planned to replace the sugar with higher quantities of existing ingredients.
Nestlé UK and Ireland ceo Fiona Kendrick said reducing the sugar would not affect the taste of the manufacturers confectionery.
“Our confectionery brands have been enjoyed in the UK for more than a century and we know that if we can improve these products nutritionally, provide more choice and information for the consumer, together with other categories, we can have a significant impact on public health,” she added.
“These innovations will help us to reduce sugar in confectionery when they are combined with other, more common methods like reformulating recipes and swapping sugar for other, non-artificial ingredients.
Reformulating recipes
Nestlé claimed to have developed a technique to restructure sugar crystals in November last year, which could cut the sugar content in its confectionery by up to 40%.
The company’s plans to reduce sugar were welcomed by Public health England (PHE) chief executive Duncan Selbie.
“Nestlé is the latest household name to commit to making everyday products healthier and we’re delighted this is just the start of its efforts,” said Selbie
“This sends a clear message that reducing sugar in food is possible, even in products that are typically harder to reformulate.”
Pressure group Action On Sugar also supported Nestlé’s planned cuts to sugar in its confectionery.
Campaign Manager Jenny Rosborough said: “We’re fully supportive of Nestle’s commitment to reduce sugar in their confectionary by 10% by 2018.
“Hopefully this means they are well on their way to achieving the recommended 20% reduction by 2020. They’ve shown it can be done and now other manufacturers must follow suit.”
Challenged food manufacturers
PHE challenged food manufacturers to cut the amount of sugar in their products by 20% in January this year.
Department of Health deputy director Emma Reed said companies that did not hit this target should be named and shamed.
Speaking at the Westminster Food & Nutrition keynote seminar at the end of January, she said transparency was needed to distinguish “the guys [food manufacturers] that are doing it” and “the guys that are not”.
Meanwhile, PHE’s childhood obesity strategy is set to be published this month.
Nestlé UK and Ireland Sugar Cuts – at a glance
- 10% cut to sugar across Nestlé’s entire confectionery range
- Up to 7,500t of sugar will be cut
- To be implemented by 2018
- Cuts to UK favourites, such as Kit Kat, Aero and Milkybar