Tesco has announced that 114 additives are now banned or restricted across its own-brand ranges, marking a steady increase from the 65 banned last year. The move is part of the supermarket's ongoing crackdown on the amount of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) it sells, responding to growing customer concern.
What is being banned and restricted
Among the banned ingredients are artificial colours, aspartame and monosodium glutamate. Additives such as mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids face restrictions and have been prioritised for further work with suppliers, according to the Retail Gazette.
Research conducted by Tesco reveals that 81 per cent of its customers are trying to reduce the amount of ultra-processed foods in their diet, though many have found it difficult to follow through.
Background on processed foods
According to the NHS, processed food is any food or drink that has been changed in some way during its making or preparation. This accounts for most of the food consumed, as some foods need processing to be safe to eat, suitable for use, preserved or to change their taste.
UPFs refer to processed foods and drinks that have undergone more processing than other foods. They can be high in calories, salt, sugar or saturated fats and include ingredients not usually found at home, such as preservatives. While some UPFs can be part of a healthy diet, diets high in UPFs can be linked to conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Tesco's approach and customer tools
Speaking about the shift, Tesco's head of healthy and sustainable diets Alice Ritchie 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."
The supermarket says it has been working extensively to reformulate its products over the past eight years while trying not to compromise on taste or quality. It will continue working with suppliers, with guidelines calling for familiar "kitchen cupboard" ingredients to be used wherever possible. It is also urging suppliers to keep additive use to the minimum required for areas such as food safety and shelf life.
To make ingredients clearer, Tesco has added a filter to its app and website allowing customers to search for products without additives, alongside existing filters for dietary, lifestyle and allergen requirements.
The crackdown is part of Tesco's push to encourage healthier diets. The company said 65 per cent of its UK and Republic of Ireland food sales are now classed as healthy, with fruit and vegetable sales rising by 10 per cent since 2022.
