Natural sugars from fruits are set to become the latest victim in Labour's anti-obesity crackdown, introducing a heightened chokehold on yoghurts and similar products.
Major food manufacturers including Danone and Nestlé have raised alarm over Labour's proposed overhaul of nutrition regulations, warning the changes could force them to remove fruit from yogurt products entirely.
The Government's planned update to the UK Nutrient Profiling Model would reclassify sugars released when fruit is mashed or pureed as "free sugars," placing them in the same category as added sweeteners.
Under this framework, a plain yogurt would pass health standards, yet an identical product containing fruit puree could be labelled unhealthy, despite offering additional fibre and nutrients.
Products relying on artificial sweeteners would remain unaffected by the proposed changes.
The reforms sit within Labour's 10-Year Health Plan for England, which aims to produce "the healthiest generation of children ever" amid troubling child obesity rates.
Danone North Europe expressed support for public health initiatives, but cautioned the proposals risked "unintended consequences for consumers."
A company spokesman stated: "Any policy must be based realistically on how food is produced and eventually chosen by consumers.
The changes would reclassify sugars released when fruit is mashed or pureed as 'free sugars'
| GETTYFurther progress will only improve health outcomes if targets are achievable and lead to products people will actually buy."
The firm's Activia Mango Yogurt currently meets existing standards, but would be reclassified as unhealthy due to its fruit puree content.
Meanwhile, Yeo Valley Organic described the approach as "counter-intuitive," arguing organic whole-milk yogurts with fruit should not face the same treatment as "ultra-processed junk food."
Nestlé confirmed it was evaluating the consultation, with its Ski Smooth Strawberry and Raspberry varieties potentially affected by the new classification system.
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Industry experts have warned reformulating products to eliminate free sugars could backfire, with consumers turning instead to cakes, biscuits, or adding honey and syrup to plain yogurts.
Dr Judith Bryans of Dairy UK accused the Department of Health and Social Care of "moving the goal posts" after manufacturers had worked to meet previous sugar reduction targets.
She warned the updated model risked steering consumers toward products with "empty calories and little meaningful nutrition" such as jelly or sugar-free fizzy drinks.
The Food and Drink Federation cautioned manufacturers were already contending with rising costs, supply chain disruptions linked to Middle East conflicts, and food inflation projected to reach nine to 10 per cent by year's end.
The federation claimed the proposed regulations would hinder efforts to control food prices, adding this was "simply not the way to help consumers make healthier choices."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman defended the reforms, stating the current nutrient profiling model was more than two decades old, and failed to reflect contemporary dietary guidance.
The spokesman said: "Since 2015, guidance has been clear that children should eat less free sugar and more fibre. The updated model reflects this and better balances beneficial nutrients against salt, sugar and saturated fat."