RIBENA and Lucozade could be forced to change their drinks recipes due to a potential increase in sugar tax.
The changes are expected to be announced in the upcoming budget on November 26.
The popular sports drink would have to change its recipe under the proposals[/caption]
Suntory, the Japanese drinks giant behind Ribena and Lucozade, has threatened to pull tens of millions of pounds in UK investment because of the potential tax increase.
The Treasury is consulting on plans to lower the starting threshold of the levy from 5g to 4g of sugar per 100ml.
Ribena currently has 4.5g of sugar per 100ml.
The tax was introduced in April 2018 to encourage product reformulation, with the funds going to towards sports programmes and breakfast clubs.
Elise Seibold, chief operating officer at Suntory Beverage & Food GB & Ireland said: “The Government proposal to change the Soft Drinks Industry Levy will impact great British brands like Lucozade and Ribena for next to no health benefit.”
“It amounts to a saving of less than a single slice of buttered toast per person in a year.
“With less than 7% of UK sugar intake coming from soft drinks, the government must look beyond unnecessary changes like this one and think far more broadly about diet and health.”
The current tax has a levy of 24p per litre on soft drinks with more than 8g of sugar per 100ml.
And 18p a litre on soft drinks containing between 5g and 8g of sugar per 100ml.
Those below 5g per 100ml are exempt.
When Ribena reformulated its drink ahead of the previous sugar tax change in 2018, fans claimed it tasted like “drain cleaner”.
The drink was changed to include controversial sweeteners Acesulfame K and Sucralose.
Suntory said any extra sugar tax would mean a second round of formulation, but added the company would wait to make a decision until after the Budget.
The Sun contacted the Treasury for comment.
More treats under threat
In other obesity rule changes, popular restaurant chain Toby Carvery has pulled its offer of free Pepsi refills.
The new legislation came into force on October 1 and bans multi-buy promotions on unhealthy food and drink
Toby Cavery which offers customers free refills on soft drinks in its restaurants, has confirmed the deal now excludes full sugar drinks such as Pepsi due to the legislation change.
The drinks on Toby Carvery’s refill deck were previously sugar free with the exception of Pepsi.
One diner took to social media to say: ” They’ve caved in to the nanny state sugar tax.”
Nandos has also been affected by the new rules.
Diners can still enjoy the unlimited glasses of diet and zero version of pop, but the Peri-Peri chain has put a stop on Coca-Cola refills due to the new obesity rules.
Elsewhere, Wetherspoons and Morrisons have been forced to pull popular offers due to the new governments obesity rules.
The chains are axing free chocolate refills.
The new rules also mean that “buy one get one free” offers on sugary foods in supermarkets and “bottomless” deals on some fizzy drinks have been banned.
The Sun exclusively revealed that the ban extends to free refills of hot sugary drinks, including hot chocolate and sweetened coffees such as mochas, with Morrisons the first retail giant to axe its deal.
The supermarket, which previously offered customers free refills on all self-serve hot drinks in its cafes, has confirmed that the deal now excludes hot chocolate and mocha due to the legislation changes.
The popular pub chain, Wetherspoons, which offers free refills on coffee, tea and hot chocolate for £1.71 each, has also been forced to scrap hot chocolate from its deal.
