Sugarwise
{{Short description|UK certification authority for sugar claims on food and drink.}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = Sugarwise.jpg
| formation = 2016
| type = Certification body
| headquarters = Cambridge
| name = Sugarwise
| region = England
| fields = Nutrition, Health
| founder = Rend Platings
| patron = Clive Brooke, Baron Brooke of Alverthorpe
| website = {{url|http://sugarwise.org/}}
}}
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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.foodnavigator.com/Policy/Healthiest-products-should-be-tariff-free-post-Brexit-says-Sugarwise|title=Healthiest products should be tariff-free post Brexit, says Sugarwise|work=FoodNavigator.com|access-date=2017-09-24|language=en-GB}}
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. The low free sugar standard is derived from the World Health Organization guidelines for daily intake of free sugars.{{cite web|url=https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/sugar-guideline/en/|title=WHO - WHO calls on countries to reduce sugars intake among adults and children|website=WHO|accessdate=23 December 2018}}
The Sugarwise Test
The Sugarwise test distinguishes between free sugars and intrinsic sugars in a food or drink product for the first time{{cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/labels-to-help-identify-added-sugar-in-foods-10200125|title=Labels To Help Identify Added Sugar In Foods|website=Sky News|accessdate=23 December 2018}} and was developed by Cambridge University Scientists.{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/2016-03-11/cambridge-new-app-to-show-how-much-sugar-is-in-food/|title=Cambridge: New app to show how much sugar is in food|website=ITV News}}
Sugarwise adheres to the WHO guidelines on free sugar content:{{Citation|last=Rend Platings|title=Rend Platings BBC News 130216 1726|date=2016-02-15|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=k_-iEe6-vF8|accessdate=2017-10-09}} "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."
Policy and Public Affairs
= #DontTaxHealthy =
Sugarwise was one of the two organisations behind the #DontTaxHealthy campaign to cut VAT on healthy food{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/vat-cut-reduction-healthy-food-punishing-consumers-sugar-tax-obesity-campaign-donttaxhealthy-fizzy-a7523991.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/vat-cut-reduction-healthy-food-punishing-consumers-sugar-tax-obesity-campaign-donttaxhealthy-fizzy-a7523991.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=A sugar tax 'won't solve the obesity crisis'. Here's why|date=12 January 2017|website=The Independent|accessdate=23 December 2018}} and continues to lobby for tax breaks on low sugar food and drink.
= Parliamentary Engagement =
Sugarwise has held Summits at the UK Houses of Parliament, chaired by Keith Vaz{{cite web|url=https://www.anhinternational.org/news/the-uk-sugar-summit/|title=The UK Sugar Summit|date=19 October 2016|website=Alliance for Natural Health International}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessweekly.co.uk/news/food-and-beverage/sugar-rush-%C3%A2%C2%80%C2%93-industry-leaders-swarm-parliamentary-summit|title=Sugar rush – industry leaders to swarm Parliamentary summit - Business Weekly - Technology News - Business news - Cambridge and the East of England|website=www.businessweekly.co.uk}} Sugarwise's Patron is Lord Clive Brooke, Baron Brooke of Alverthorpe.{{cite web|url=https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6625393669191024640/|title=Announcement of Lord Brooke's Patronage by CEO of Sugarwise|website=www.linkedin.com}}
A Summit at the European parliament was convened in September 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/35048379647?aff=efbneb|title=The Sugar Summit in Brussels #SugarSummit|website=Eventbrite}} supported by Alex Mayer. This called for tariffs to be removed for healthier food and drink across the EU post Brexit And was followed by a third summit at the UK Houses of Parliament on 13 September 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://costsectorcatering.co.uk/netmums-and-sugarwise-survey-reveals-parents%E2%80%99-%E2%80%9Cstruggle-find-low-sugar-foods-store%E2%80%9D|title=Netmums and Sugarwise survey reveals parents' "struggle to find low sugar foods in-store" {{!}} Cost Sector Catering|website=costsectorcatering.co.uk|access-date=2017-10-09}}
History
Sugarwise was launched in March 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.new-nutrition.com/article/displayArticle/1432|title=New Nutrition Business Development|website=www.new-nutrition.com|access-date=2017-09-24}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZ1g3qVO2dA|title=Rend Platings Sky News 110316 0939|last=Sugarwise|date=16 March 2016 |publisher=|accessdate=23 December 2018|via=YouTube}} with the assistance of Enterprise Europe Network.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/innovation-coaching-helps-uk-firms-to-thrive-in-european-markets|title=Innovation coaching helps UK firms to thrive in European markets|website=GOV.UK|author=Innovate UK|date=19 December 2016|accessdate=9 February 2021}} Mother-of-one Rend Platings founded the organisation{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIST3vxXl_E|title=Rend Platings on BBC Inside Out on 15th February 16 1930 Sugarwise|last=Sugarwise|date=16 February 2016 |publisher=|accessdate=23 December 2018|via=YouTube}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/871064|work=Medscape|title=Sugar Is the New Tobacco, so Let's Treat It That Way|first=Aseem|last=Malhotra|date=31 October 2016 |accessdate=2017-08-25}}
The Sugarwise logo was developed by design firm Pemberton & Whitefoord (P&W){{Cite news|url=https://www.packagingnews.co.uk/news/markets/food/sugarwise-marque-launch-across-europe-10-08-2017|title=Sugarwise marque to launch across Europe|date=2017-08-10|work=Packaging News|access-date=2017-10-09|language=en-US}} with the support of Tesco.{{cite web|url=https://www.campaignlive.co.uk/article/tesco-helps-mum-create-low-sugar-food-certification-brand/1384476|title=Tesco helps mum create low sugar food certification brand|website=www.campaignlive.co.uk}}
The first product to be certified was JimJams reduced-sugar chocolate spread.{{cite web|url=https://www.foodbev.com/news/reduced-sugar-spreads-brand-jimjams-secures-landmark-listing/|title=Reduced-sugar spreads brand JimJams gains 'landmark' listing|date=24 July 2016|publisher=}}
In July 2017 Sugarwise certified "Sugar Free" recipes magazine sold in UK supermarkets.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Reducing+sugar+intake+is+sweet+deal+for+health.-a0499166964|first=Maria|last=Croce|title=Reducing Sugar Intake Is Sweet Deal for Health|work=Daily Record|date=25 July 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://sugarwise.org/ The official website of Sugarwise]
{{Certification marks}}
{{UK-charity-stub}}
Category:Food policy in the United Kingdom
Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom
Category:Nutrition in the United Kingdom
Category:Organisations based in Cambridge