From September, Tesco will no longer sell certain sugary drinks, such as Ribena and Rubicon, but rather only stock the ‘no added sugar’ versions of these popular beverages. This will apply to multi-pack cartons, which are aimed primarily at children. Tesco say this move is part of a plan to supply its customers with healthier options when grocery shopping. A Tesco statement read, “From September all the children’s juice drinks we sell will have no added sugar in them because we know it’ll make a positive difference to children’s health.”

Obesity is a big problem in the UK, so any campaign to promote healthy alternatives is welcome, especially if it comes from one of the biggest retailers in the country. However, it is difficult to see if this is a genuinely positive step by Tesco, or more of a PR stunt aimed at parents. For example, although the multi-pack cartons of Ribena will now only be available in the ‘no added sugar’ version, original Ribena will be available as cordial, and in the ready to drink 500ml plastic bottles. If Tesco were truly serious about changing shopping habits, they could have, and in fact should have gone a lot further than they did. A look at a variety of other products still on offer at Tesco emphasizes this point further:

“Haribo Kids Mix Up/ Starmix” – 47% sugar.

“Tesco Cookies And Cream Cones 4 X 110Ml” – 23.9% sugar, 20% of Recommended Daily Intake (RI) per cone.

“Coca Cola Regular 24 X 330Ml Pack” – 10.6% sugar, 39% of RI per can.

“Tesco Chocolate Zig Zag Crepes 160G” – 35% sugar.

These products all have very high sugar content, but will continue to be available in September, when Tesco implements this new initiative. It would be unfeasible for Tesco to stop selling all ‘high in sugar’ products straight away, but this step seems just a bit too small. Unlike a retailer such as Whole Foods, they are not known for a commitment to healthy eating, and this move will be unlikely to change that view. It will be interesting to see the effect this has on sales in the coming months, and whether Tesco continue to make reforms towards healthy living. If sales in children’s soft drinks drop dramatically, will Tesco keep their commitment to “make a positive difference to children’s health” or will the importance of profits come first?