FDBusiness.com

Nestle has become the first major confectionery manufacturer in the United Kingdom to remove all artificial ingredients from its entire confectionery range. The company has now replaced artificial colours, flavours and preservatives with alternatives in all 79 confectionery products it sells in the country.

Carrot, hibiscus, radish, and lemon are just some of the natural ingredients Nestle has used to provide colour or flavour in popular products such as Rolo and Smarties.

“Pleasure is, and will always be, our priority for confectionery,” says Marcelo Melchior, head of Nestle’s Confectionery Strategic Business Unit. “A responsible approach towards our product portfolio will help us to be recognised as offering the confectionery brands consumers feel best about purchasing. Our achievement in the UK brings us one step closer to this.”

Nestle made the changes in response to consumer demand in the UK for fewer artificial ingredients in food. According to consumer research, three quarters of British people look for products without artificial additives when buying confectionery. Nestle has already removed artificial ingredients from all its beverages in the UK, including Nesquik.

Nestle’s success is the result of a seven-year research and development programme that has led to more than 80 artificial ingredients being replaced with alternatives. The work is part of the company’s long-term commitment to finding natural substitutes for artificial colours, flavours and preservatives in confectionery. Similar initiatives are already underway in Canada and a number of other European markets.