LEVY ON SUGARY BEVERAGES
FROM APRIL 1st 2018, SARS HAS STARTED COLLECTING SUGARY BEVERAGES LEVY (SBL).
THE LEVY IS FIXED AT 2.1 % PER GRAM OF SUGAR CONTENT THAT EXCEEDS 4 G PER 100 ML, WHICH MEANS THE FIRST 4 G PER 100 ML ARE LEVY FREE. THE LEVY IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROGRAMME TO PREVENT AND CONTROL NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (NCD's) AND ASSIST IN THE PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF OBESITY.
HERE FOLLOWS A STATEMENT FROM A SPECIALIST IN THE DAIRY AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY.
BRIX IN THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY DEFINED AS THE PERCENTAGE OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS (%TS) IN A WATER SOLUTION ON A WEIGHT FOR WEIGHT BASIS (ºB) AT 20 ºC. IN THE BEVERAGE / SOFT DRINK INDUSTRY, BRIX IS USED AS A QUALITATIVE INDICATOR TO ENSURE THAT A FORMULATION IS PRODUCED TO THE REQUIREMENT OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ENSURE CONSTANT QUALITY TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMER BASE.
FOR REASONS OF TIME AND COST, BEVERAGE PRODUCERS USE HANDHELD OR BENCHTOP REFLECTOMETERS TO TEST THE TOTAL %TS IN A BEVERAGE NOT THE % TOTAL SUGAR - REFRACTOMETERS ARE DESIGNED TO REFRACT SUCROSE ONLY AND RESULTS ARE QUALITATIVE NOT QUANTITATIVE AS THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER INGREDIENTS WHICH DISSOLVE IN THE BEVERAGE WATER (LISTED BELOW). A HANDHELD REFRACTOMETER WILL IN FACT REFRACT A READING FOR A 10 % SOLUTION OF SALT (NaCL) AT 20 ºC AS 11.00 ºBRIX - IT'S OBVIOUS THIS SOLUTION CONTAINS NO SUGAR AT ALL. HOWEVER, THE REFRACTOMETER IS PICKING UP DISSOLVED SOLIDS IN THE SOLUTION.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SUGAR TAX, PRODUCERS RE-FORMULATED PRODUCTS TO HAVE A TOTAL INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC "GLYCAEMIC SUGARS CONTENT" OF <4 G / 100 ML BEVERAGE. THE MEASUREMENT OF BRIX WITH A REFRACTOMETER WILL NOT GIVE YOU A QUANTITATIVE AMOUNT OF 'SUGAR' BUT RATHER A PERCENTAGE OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS (%TS) OF THE BEVERAGE.
TO ACCURATELY QUANTIFY THE TOTAL GRAMS OF DISSOLVED GLYCAEMIC SUGAR IN 100 ML OF A SPECIFIC BEVERAGE, A SANAS ACCREDITED LABORATORY NEEDS TO TEST THE PRODUCT FOR TOTAL GLYCAEMIC CARBOHYDRATE / SUGARS AND THIS NEEDS TO BE <4 G / 100 ML TO CONFORM TO THE SUGAR TAX. THIS TEST IS REQUIRED BY SARS.
THE QUALITY SPECIFICATION RELEASE CRITERIA OF A PRODUCT IS NOT THE MEASUREMENT OF % SUGAR IN A BEVERAGE, IT'S A BEVERAGE TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLID.
APART FROM SUGAR, A DAIRY FRUIT MIX BEVERAGE IS MADE UP OF WATER AND SEVERAL OTHER INGREDIENTS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THE PERCENTAGE OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS (%TS), THESE BEING:
* MILK (LACTOSE),
* FRUIT CONCENTRATE (SUGAR, MALIC / CITRIC ACID),
* CARBOXYMETHYL CELLULOSE,
* SODIUM CITRATE,
* CITRIC ACID,
* NON-NUTRITIVE SWEETENER,
* PRESERVATIVES,
* COLOURANTS.
HEREWITH AN EXAMPLE:
BRIX RELEASE SPECIFICATION IS 4.5 - 6.5 @ 20 ºC AND THIS WILL HAVE 3.97 G 'SUGAR' PER 100 ML.
SHOULD YOU NEED ANY ASISTANCE IN THIS REGARD, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT OUR APPLICATION SPECIALITS / RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST:
ATTACHED: GOVERNMENT GAZETTE - 14 DECEMBER 2017 (SCHEDULE NO. 1 / PART 7 / SECTION A)
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