Beverages - Soft drink sugar content regulations reversed.
Lemondades can now have less than seven percent sugar content and still be referred to as such. The German Food Code Commission (DLMBK) has amended the previous rule stating that lemonades must contain at least seven percent sugar. This resolution concludes a debated controversy that lasted over five years. Manufacturers can now use "ingredients to create a sweet taste (e.g., sugar types, sweeteners)" without being subject to a specific sugar limit.
The trigger for the years-long argument was the Hamburg beverage company Lemonaid, whose sugar content in their bio-lemonade was considered insufficient at six percent. The Hamburg district office ordered the company to either alter their label or add more sugar in 2019. However, Lemonaid opposed this decision. The Hamburg health authority also backed the company at the time, saying, "Foods with low sugar content should not be penalized but accepted as the norm." Despite the dispute, Lemonaid continued to sell their drink.
Paul Bethke, the managing director of Lemonaid, expressed happiness about the amended guidelines in an interview with "Stern" (Tuesday), while also commenting, "It's a bit strange that it took five years."
The Food Code is not legally binding, but it influences the food industry. The commission, consisting of consumer protection, scientists, food control authorities, and economic representatives, creates guidelines to set minimum and maximum amounts to safeguard consumers and prevent food manufacturers from deceptive practices. The DLMBK has established more than 2000 food compositions, ranging from fruit juices to spices and baked goods. These guidelines promote "clarity and truth in food," as mentioned on the commission's website.
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- The change in regulations has allowed beverage companies in Germany, such as Lemonaid, to produce lemonades with less than seven percent sugar, appealing to health-conscious consumers who prefer lower sugar content in their drinks.
- German consumers can now enjoy a wide variety of lemonades, not only the sweet ones, as the DLMBK amended the ruling, allowing manufacturers to use alternatives to sugar like sweeteners to create a sweet taste without meeting the previous sugar limits.
- Lemonaid's bio-lemonade, initially criticized for having only six percent sugar, can now be sold under its original name, drawing appreciation from the company's managing director, Paul Bethke, who expressed his satisfaction with the amended guidelines in an interview.
Source: www.stern.de
