Small and medium-sized food and drink producers (SMEs) can receive guidance on sugar reduction, labelling and claims at an upcoming seminar run by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and Leatherhead Food Research (LFR).

The free event will be held at midday on 24 November as part of Food Matters Live at the ExCeL Centre, London.

A sugar reformulation guide for SMEs was published by the FDF and LFR this year, offering guidance on sugar reduction in three categories: dairy desserts, baked goods and soft drinks.

The FDF said the session at Food Matters Live “is ideal for small businesses that are thinking about reformulation but are not too sure where to start”.

There is a significant government drive for food and drink manufacturers and caterers to lower sugars in their products as part of the recently launched Childhood Obesity Plan. As part of the session, experts will give an overview of the basics, including relevant regulatory considerations, where to access resources, and how to take the first steps. 

The session is free to attend, includes a question-and-answer session as well as lunch, and will take place in Gallery Room 10 at the ExCeL.

Speaking ahead of the event, Ian Wright CBE, director general of the FDF, said: “As regulatory and public conversations about sugar continue, this event is an opportunity for small and medium businesses to hear from experts in the field about the responsibilities and opportunities ahead of them.”

Last month Action on Sugar urged food manufacturers to support Public Health England’s voluntary reformulation programme.