NESTLÉ IRELAND has announced the removal of all artificial ingredients from its range of confectionery which includes Kit Kats, Smarties and Aeros.

The company says that the Nestlé Crunch was the final one of 79 products to make the switchover in a project it started in 2005. Smarties and Milky Bars were among the first products to undergo the ingredient switch.

More than 80 ingredients have been replaced with alternatives including concentrates of fruit, vegetables and edible plants such as hibiscus, according to the confectioner.

Nestlé says the switch was prompted by customer concerns over additives in food products and the company had committed to finding alternatives to the artificial colours, flavours and preservatives used in its range.

Nestlé Ireland country manager Oliver Sutherland said that the move away from artificial ingredients marked a “significant milestone” in the company’s 100-year history.

“Nestlé is proud to be the only major confectionery company in the Ireland to be 100 per cent free of artificial preservatives, flavours or colours across the entire portfolio,” he said. “To achieve this, Nestlé Ireland and our suppliers have worked very hard ensuring we don’t compromise and we maintain the same quality and taste of all our brands.”

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