AUSTRALIA – PepsiCo has announced that it has changed the cooking oil for majority of its snack brands in Australian to canola oil, in a move aimed at reducing the saturated fat content in Doritos, Tostitos, Twisties, Burger Rings and Cheetos.
PepsiCo ANZ CEO, Danny Celoni the shift will ensure that 90 per cent of the company’s local snack portfolio meets the global PepsiCo 2025 goal to reduce saturated fat in products to no more than 1.1 grams per 100 calories.
PepsiCo had already made the switch for Smith’s chips last year and has now rolled out the change across its other snack brands.
“We know that consumer needs and preferences are changing, and Australians are more concerned about their health and wellness than ever before,” Celoni said
“Smith’s chips made the shift to Australian canola oil in 2018, and we are proud to have now rolled out this change to more of our great snack brands like Doritos and Twisties.
“This move is going to mean that Burger Rings and Twisties will have a greater than 80 per cent reduction in saturated fats. That’s a big thing while delivering on the same outstanding flavours consumers love.
“We have been making changes to our portfolio, products and packaging to ensure we can meet our consumers’ needs. We are committed to reformulating our products without compromising on the great taste our consumers love.
“The team has been working to reduce the added sugars, saturated fat and sodium in our food and beverages. We seek to provide consumers with more product offerings, and clear ingredient labelling information. We remain committed to meet the highest standards for food quality and safety.”
To support the efforts, the company said that it will be sourcing over 14,000 tonnes of canola oil from form Australia, specifically in New South Wales and Victoria.
In addition, PepsiCo Australia is also in the process of rolling out voluntary Health Star Rating on the front of its packaging.
The ratings will be on 67% of PepsiCo’s Australian snack products by the end of 2019, on track to meet government guidelines of 70% by 2023.
The company said the change to Australian canola oil is also a significant investment in Australian agriculture.
“We’re committed to supporting local agriculture. We’re proud that 80% of the produce we use, including the potatoes that go into our iconic Smith’s chips, are grown right here in Australia,” said Celoni.
