Coca-Cola, Kellogg and PepsiCo move to accelerate sugar-free products

NEW DELHI: With growing concern over mid to high sugar content in packaged foods and beverages, firms such as Coca-Cola, Kellogg and PepsiCo are moving to slashing sugar levels not only in western markets but also in India.

Officials at these firms said moving to sugar-free or low-sugar food and drinks was top priority and that they have applied for necessary licenses and permissions to food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India ( FSSAI) for the same.

Coca-Cola has Diet Zero and Coke Zero in its portfolio in India, while PepsiCo and Kellogg are working on plans to introduce low-sugar or healthier variants.
Measures such as launching small packs to limit portion sizes are also being accelerated, officials said.

The firms follow a voluntary code of conduct about not directly advertising to children below 12 years of age.

The UK government is already considering sugar tax on the beverage industry, following which Coca-Cola and PepsiCo have said earlier this week that they will reduce sugar consumption by a fifth by limiting marketing to children under 16 years of age and introducing low-sugar products.