PepsiCo has officially introduced a new generation of the iconic South African staple, ProNutro, featuring an updated texture, more versatile usage, improved packaging, and a drastic reduction in sugar. The new recipe contains 11.9g of total sugar per 100g, down from 21.6g in the previous recipe, marking a 45% reduction in total sugar.
New Generation ProNutro
According to the updated nutritional information on the PepsiCo website, the new recipe is not only lower in sugar but also high in energy, high in plant-based protein, and high in 13 vitamins and 4 minerals. The updated texture was designed for greater versatility, allowing consumers to enjoy the product either as a traditional bowl of cereal or mixed into a shake.
The changes have sparked a heated debate among long-time fans, with some taking to social media to complain about the cereal’s new taste and texture. However, others have welcomed the reduction in sugar, citing the growing concern over the high sugar content in many breakfast cereals.
Why the Recipe Change?
PepsiCo explained that the recipe adjustment was not just for health trends, but was partly necessitated by the company’s ageing infrastructure and unreliable equipment performance. The manufacturer warned that without making these processing updates, it would have negatively impacted the quality of the product expected by consumers.
Some of the key features of the new ProNutro recipe include:
- Reduced total sugar content by 45%
- Updated texture for greater versatility
- Improved packaging
- High in energy, plant-based protein, and essential vitamins and minerals
The debate over the new ProNutro recipe highlights the challenges faced by food manufacturers in balancing consumer demand for healthier products with the need to maintain the quality and taste of their products.
