Update: May 2007
We’re passionate about making our food healthier and tastier and our customers have told us that they want less artificial additives in their food and drink. In response to this, we’re delighted to confirm that we do not use any artificial additives in our own-brand food and drink unless it’s essential to the quality and safety of the product.
Since May 2006 we’ve reviewed all our own-brand food and drink products and where necessary, we have reformulated them to remove all artificial colours*, artificial flavour enhancers including mono-sodium glutamate (MSG), the artificial sweeteners aspartame, saccharin and acesulfame k, and the benzoate group of preservatives. What’s more, we’ve succeeded in doing this whilst retaining great tasting products.
In addition, Sainsbury’s Taste the difference, Sainsbury’s Be Good to Yourself, Sainsbury’s Kids ranges have now even tighter restrictions on additives that are used.
*There are 4 remaining products in our own-brand range that are an exception:
- Angel cake
- Tinned strawberries
- Tinned raspberries
- Processed peas
- Some products containing glacé cherries
These products are clearly labelled for you to make an informed choice. However, we are actively sourcing natural colours for each of these products.
We recently announced our to remove all artificial colours and flavourings and the preservative sodium benzoate from our entire range of over 120 own brand soft drinks including fizzy drinks, squash, cordials and mixers. In addition, the sweetener aspartame will be replaced with sucralose. The reformulation of our soft drinks will be complete by June 2007 and we will be the first UK retailer to achieve this.