Irn-Bru: End of an era
Scotland’s ‘other national drink’ will now have less than half the old amount of sugar in secret recipe Not so sweet! Irn-Bru cuts sugar by 50% Daily Mail, March 2, 2017
THE maker of Irn-Bru yesterday confirmed production of its fullsugar recipe has ended amid growing support for a sugary drinks tax.
Production of the old version ended yesterday and has been replaced by a new recipe that contains less than half the amount of sugar.
The changes will see sugar levels in Irn-Bru reduced from 10.3 grams per 100ml to 4.7 grams in response to the UK Government’s soft drinks levy, which comes into effect from April.
A spokesman for AG Barr last night confirmed production of the reduced-sugar version has begun at its plants in Cumbernauld and Milton Keynes.
She added that the new recipe would be on the shelves later this month.
From April 6, soft drinks manufacturers will be taxed 18p per litre on drinks containing 5g of sugar or more per 100ml, or 24p per litre if the drink has 8g or more of sugar per 100ml. The tax will hit one in five UK drinks.
The announcement came as a report revealed the majority of Scots back a tax on sugary drinks to tackle the country’s obesity problem. Figures show 65 per cent of adult Scots were overweight or obese in 2016, up from 52 per cent in 1995.
The report by NHS Health Scotland found ‘substantial public support’ for action to reduce the problem – a factor it described as key to reversing the trend. The study is the result of the NHS’s work with research organisation ScotCen on the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey.
Three key elements were identified as necessary to reduce obesity in Scotland – tackling environmental factors, supporting people to make the right choices and giving treatment options for those who are already overweight.
The report found 62 per cent backed placing a tax on sugary fizzy drinks – but only 47 per cent were in favour of putting a levy on fatty foods.
A majority were in favour of restrictions on advertising, sponsorship and packaging of food and drink which is high in fat, sugar or salt.
Two-thirds (65 per cent) said they were in favour of banning the use of children’s cartoon characters on the packaging of unhealthy goods.
There was 57 per cent support for reducing the portion sizes of unhealthy snacks or drinks and 82 per cent backing for limiting the amount of fat, sugar and salt that can be added to food and drink by manufacturers. The vast majority (91 per cent) agreed that cheap fast food was ‘too easily available’.
Obesity is one of the three main health risks facing Scotland, alongside smoking and drinking to excess.
Report author Deborah Shipton said: ‘The results of the Scottish Social Attitudes Survey on obesity are encouraging.
‘They tell us not only that the public agree that the levels of overweight and obesity in Scotland is a problem, but crucially that they believe that supermarkets, food producers, schools, the media and the Government, alongside individuals, all have a role to play to address it.’
Public Health Minister Aileen Campbell said: ‘This survey shows the public supports the bold action we’re proposing to tackle obesity – and that’s really encouraging.
‘We’re currently consulting on a plan designed to help people make healthier choices. This is the start of a progressive plan of action, learning from our experience in Scotland and further afield, that will make a real, lasting difference to the country’s health.’