Tesco has banned or restricted 114 additives from its own-brand products
Tesco confirms 114 ingredients banned in UK supermarket crackdown
Tesco has launched a major crackdown in UK supermarkets with 114 ingredients banned. Tesco has banned or restricted 114 additives from its own-brand products as the supermarket responds to growing concerns around ultra-processed foods.
The additives affected include ingredients such as artificial colours, aspartame and monosodium glutamate (MSG). Tesco said more than 80% of its customers are trying to cut down on ultra-processed foods.
But many shoppers find it difficult to work out which products to choose. Alice Ritchie, Tesco’s head of healthy and sustainable diets, said: “Health needs are reshaping the way people shop.
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“A big one is concern around ultra-processed foods, which has moved very much beyond trend territory.
“Customers are talking about UPFs more than ever before, reading ingredients lists and asking for more transparency. As part of our work in this space we have either outright banned or restricted 114 food additives in our own brand products.”
Tesco said it is continuing to reformulate products in a bid to make them healthier, including reducing levels of fat, salt and sugar while adding more vegetables, protein and fibre where possible.
The supermarket says additives are only used where needed for reasons such as food safety, shelf life or quality, and in the minimum amounts required.
Shoppers are also being encouraged towards healthier options such as fresh fruit and vegetables, while Tesco has introduced filters on its online grocery service to make it easier to find products that meet different dietary needs.
It comes as Tesco has strengthened its position as the leading supermarket in the roll-out of electric home delivery vans, with its 2,000th electric van arriving this week at Tesco Hemsworth Superstore in West Yorkshire, where the store runs six home delivery vans.
Tesco has doubled the number of electric home delivery vans over the last year, with more than 30% of the fleet now powered by electricity.
