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What is SugarWise certification and who runs it?
Executive summary
Sugarwise is an international certification authority that verifies sugar-related claims (e.g., “sugar free,” “low sugar,” “no added sugar”) and permits use of its logo on products that meet its free-sugar thresholds — no more than 5 g free sugars per 100 g for foods and 2.5 g per 100 ml for beverages — a standard the organisation ties to WHO guidance [1] [2]. The scheme and its testing method were founded and publicised by Rend Platings with research involvement from Cambridge University scientists; Sugarwise says it has certified hundreds of products in dozens of countries [3] [4] [1].
1. What Sugarwise says it does — an independent verifier for sugar claims
Sugarwise positions itself as “the international authority for sugar related claims,” offering a marque that independently verifies claims such as “sugar free,” “low sugar,” “no added sugar,” “reduced sugar,” “low calorie” and “reduced carb,” and requires certified products to be within its free‑sugar limits (5 g/100 g for foods, 2.5 g/100 ml for drinks) [1] [2].
2. Origins and who runs it — a founder-led initiative with academic backing
Multiple pieces of reporting and Sugarwise’s own materials name Rend Platings as the founder and chief public figure behind the scheme; press interviews and organisational pages repeatedly identify Rend Platings as the founder/CEO and spokesperson who launched the initiative and campaigned for certification of schools and products [3] [5] [6]. Sugarwise also highlights collaborative research or “research backing” from Cambridge University scientists in the development of its test to distinguish free sugars from intrinsic sugars [3] [4] [7].
3. The “Sugarwise test” — what reporting claims it can do
Coverage and Sugarwise publicity state that the Sugarwise test was developed to differentiate free (added) sugars from intrinsic sugars — a methodological claim presented as a key innovation enabling independent verification of added-sugar claims without relying solely on manufacturer recipe disclosure [8] [7]. Those sources characterise this test as novel and central to the certification’s credibility [8].
4. Scale, uptake and partnerships — evidence Sugarwise cites
Sugarwise’s website and About pages report growth: more than 500 products certified and distribution in some 70+ countries, and availability of certification across EU member states and major markets including the US, Canada, Australia and others [1] [2]. Early coverage also notes retail and institutional engagement, including support from Tesco and pilot activity around school menus and parliamentary “Sugar Summits” where MPs and experts participated [3] [4].
5. Where sources agree, and where they leave gaps
Available reporting consistently attributes founding and leadership to Rend Platings and describes Cambridge University scientists as research collaborators for the test [3] [7]. However, the provided materials do not detail the governance, accreditation, or independent oversight structures (for example, board membership, external auditors, or third‑party accreditation bodies) of Sugarwise; that level of institutional transparency is not found in the current reporting (not found in current reporting).
6. Competing viewpoints and potential conflicts to note
Publicity highlights retailer backing (Tesco mentioned in several items) and campaigning activity in parliaments, which can bolster public visibility but also raises the normal questions journalists ask about commercial and policy influence; the sources explicitly note Tesco support and political engagement [3] [4]. The materials are promotional in tone (Sugarwise site and press releases) and rely on founder quotes and self‑reported certification numbers; independent third‑party evaluations or critical analyses were not present in the supplied set (not found in current reporting).
7. How consumers should read the logo and the claims
According to Sugarwise, the marque guarantees that the specific sugar claim on the packaging has been independently verified and that the product meets their free‑sugar thresholds, with certified items able to carry the Sugarwise logo alongside permitted sugar claims [1] [2]. The organisation frames this as a tool for consumers to distinguish free/added sugars from intrinsic sugars in products [7].
8. Bottom line and what to watch for next
Sugarwise is a founder‑led certification scheme that combines a proprietary test, claimed Cambridge research backing, retailer engagement (e.g., Tesco) and a public campaign to expand low‑sugar options; it publicly reports hundreds of certifications and international availability [3] [1] [2]. For greater confidence, readers and buyers should look for independent evaluations of the test methodology and for clearer governance or accreditation details — items not covered in the supplied sources (not found in current reporting).