Plamil Sugarwise Chocolate

Plamil's chocolate has been the first to be accredited with the new Sugarwise certification which helps consumers identify low free sugar content in food. Plamil's So free No Added Sugar Chocolate and Expressions Sugarwise Chocolate has no added sugar.

Low Free Sugar Chocolate

Sugarwise is the only mark certifying foods that derive no more than 5% of their energy from free sugars – 'simple' sugars that are broken down quickly by the body, are accompanied by little fibre and other nutrients and can wreak havoc on our health. Plamil's Expressions Sugarwise Chocolate has a mere 1.5g of natural sugars in its 100g bar.

One of the most significant breakthroughs in the fight against the effects of free sugars to date, the newly developed Sugarwise test enables scientists to differentiate between a product's total sugar content and free sugar content for the first time.

The test was developed by worried mum Rend Platings in collaboration with scientists from The University of Cambridge, including esteemed sugar and carbohydrates expert, Dr. Tom Simmons.

Rend Platings, Sugarwise Founder, said:
"I was shocked to hear that my daughter's generation may be outlived by their parents. It's not that we don't know about the dangers of sugar, we do; the problem relates to our lack of access to healthier choices. I am hoping that Sugarwise will have the potential to change things in the same way Fairtrade and Organic labels have – both have successfully driven up demand and availability of products in their categories. We would all benefit if the same was the case for low free sugar products."

Sugar Smart

In summer 2015 a ruling by the government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) stated that, taken as a whole, the population should get no more than 5% of their daily energy intake from free sugars. Although this directive was widely publicised, the British public have not been privy to tools that adequately help them make informed decisions, causing widespread confusion. While both on-pack nutritional labelling and Public Health England's Sugar Smart app allow the consumer to understand total sugar content, neither take into account added (free) versus naturally occurring (intrinsic) sugars. Sugarwise will address this through a simple, easily recognisable label.

About Sugarwise

Billed as "Sugar's equivalent of the Fairtrade marque … with the potential to be as big" (the Grocer) Sugarwise is the certification scheme for truly no added sugar products. There's new guidance on the different types of sugar we should and shouldn't eat but nothing on our food labels. The scheme works with manufacturers to promote lower sugar products, and similar to Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, and other food and drink certifications, provide a clear marque to help customers quickly identify them.

Dr. Tom Simmons said:
"The majority of the population far exceeds the 5% free sugar guideline amount and, at the same time, obesity and sugar-related illness rates are soaring. Because of this, we developed the Sugarwise test and certification to let people take control of their diets. It is about helping consumers make simple swaps and informed decisions. If Sugarwise encourages the food industry to address free sugar content the knock-on effect for society could be huge."

Plamil No Added Sugar Chocolate

Plamil no added sugar chocolate is sweetened with xylitol from the sap of birch trees in Finland. Plamil chocolate has been judged by Ethical Consumer magazine as the most ethically produced in the UK. The cocoa is produced under the UTZ Certified programme which enables farmers to learn better farming methods, improving working conditions and take better care of their children and the environment. In addition this no added sugar chocolate, which is also suitable for those wishing to avoid dairy, gluten and nuts has won Organic and Natural Trade, Health and Pharmacy business awards.

Plamil MD, Adrian Ling said:
"Making wonderful tasting no added sugar chocolate has been our passion for a number of years and now have a fantastic range which also uses certified cocoa. We are committed to promoting and combining the health benefits of No added sugar with certified cocoa for our chocolate and fully behind all efforts in supporting retailers in offering a healthy and ethically alternative to sugar based chocolate products. Wonderful tasting chocolate should be about cocoa, which has health benefits and not sugar."

He continues:
"Chocolate can once again be sold in the checkout aisle"

More About Plamil Sugarwise Chocolate

Media coverage about the Sugarwise certification and our no added sugar chocolate, has seen Plamil featured in the news, including these clips from Marketing Magazine and Sky News.

For more details of our So free No Added Sugar range see So free No Added Sugar Chocolate.

For more details of our Expressions range see No Added Sugar Chocolate.

For more details about the Sugarwise certification see Sugarwise.