Nestlé
Nestlé is a truly vast food combine. Based in Switzerland, it now owns many of Britain's oldest and best-known brands, among them Rolo, Smarties, After Eight, Caramac, Aero, Kit-Kat, Buitoni, Nescafé, Nesquik, Perrier, Ski, Shredded Wheat, Shreddies, Cheerios ... and a good number of them contain hydrogenated vegetable oil.
On 5 July 2003, Nestle UK announced that it is removing trans fat from Rolo and Toffee Crisp. However as of May 2004 this does not appear to have taken place. Nestle has also indicated that, as a matter of corporate policy, it wishes over time to reduce the trans fat content of its products generally.
This should be possible without too much difficultly. Nestlé had no trouble responding to Denmark's stringent laws on trans fats, which forbid trans fat levels greater than 2% in any product or oil. According to Irene Brustad, quality manager at Nestlé Nordic
"Since Denmark is part of the Nordic region, we have extended the Danish standard to cover all products for the Nordic market. It has been a challenge for us, but I am not aware of any product we have had to withdraw because of the trans-fatty acid law."
Products
Among the Nestlé brands we found to contain hydrogenated vegetable oil (and by implication trans fats) are the following:
- Rolo (toffee-filled milk chocolates)
- Smarties small chocolate egg
- Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios (sugary cereals for children)
- Golden Grahams (sugary cereal for children)
- Golden Graham cereal bars.
Statement on trans fats
"Nestle recognizes that Trans Fatty Acids (TFA) are food components, which should be limited in foods and therefore we will continue to reduce the levels of TFA in our products. We are currently reformulating the small number of our brands that are applicable to remove or minimise the hydrogenated fat content."
Contact
Website: www.nestle.co.uk.
Head Office
Phone: 0208 686 3333
Post: Nestlé UK Ltd, St George's House, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1NR.
Consumer Services
Phone: 01904 604604
Post: Nestlé UK Ltd, York YO91 1XY.
