Tesco announces ban on over 100 additives in major clampdown on processed foods

TESCO has revealed it is banning 114 ingredients as part of a huge crack down on ultra-processed food. These types of foods often include ingredients you would not usually have at home, such as preservatives, sweeteners and emulsifiers. Over 100 additives will be banned from its own label range as it looks to supply shoppers with healthier food Credit: TonyBaggett They can be found in anything from ready meals to fizzy drinks. Diets high in ultra-processed foods have been linked to an increased risk of health conditions such as obesity, heat disease and type 2 diabetes. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! But now the UK’s biggest supermarket has said it will axe over 100 of these additives from food found from in its own label range. Alice Ritchie, head of healthy and sustainable diets said: “Making healthy, sustainably produced food affordable and accessible for every household is a priority for Tesco. “We’re working hard to reformulate our products to make them healthier and more nutritious and we provide clear guidance to our “Own Brand suppliers on the use of additives. As part of this, we have restricted the use of 114 additives in our Own Brand products” It comes after 80% of Tesco shoppers told the retailer they were trying to eat fewer processed foods but that they found it hard. The brand has also launched a dietary and lifestyle filter on its online site, where customers can filter for products without additives. Most read in Money Tesco is not the only supermarket cracking down on these ultra processed foods. Last year, M&S launched its Only range which includes eight or less ingredients. Comment now