Fans slam Ribena for changing its recipe – and claim it now tastes like ‘drain cleaner’
FURIOUS squash drinkers have blasted Ribena for changing their recipe - and they reckon it now tastes like "drain cleaner".
The Suntory Group, who make the soft drink, cut their sugar content by half last month - ahead of the new UK Sugar Tax guidelines in April this year.
Ribena drinks now contain under 5g of sugar per 100ml and have been replaced by controversial sweeteners Acesulfame K and Sucralose.
They've also added Polydextrose to make it thicker but when consumed in large amounts it's also known to cause bloating, flatulence and diarrhoea.
Now, customers have said that they're boycotting "devious" Ribena over claims that the new recipe is not up to scratch.
Hundreds of angry customers have taken to Ribena’s Facebook page to complain.
Fuming fan Paul Court wrote: "Just came on here to find out why our Ribena tastes like drain cleaner. Very silly move Ribena. Not even close to being nice."
Andy Sayle wrote: "Got a horrible bitterish aftertaste, and not at all like Ribena always has tasted (for what I can remember of my 38 years on this planet)."
Alice Glimmer said: "The taste has totally changed and I find it disgusting. You were one of the few cordials left without sweeteners.
"As I don’t drink them, I will have to stop drinking Ribena after 40 years of being a firm fan. #RibenaBoycott #noSweetnersInClassic”
Paul Norton wrote: “Massive fail thinking no one would notice you changed the recipe! Bring back a full strength sugar Ribena, I'd pay more for it with a Sugar Tax!"
And Jessica McVeigh said she's ditching the drink because she has previously suffered sweetener induced migranes and "wouldn't wish them on anyone."
According to the NHS website, even though Acesulfame K has been approved for general use in the EU and the US, critics say it could be carcinogenic, affect pregnancy and cause tumours due to lack of studies.
Ribena responded to customers online, saying that they felt the change was "the right thing to do".
A spokesperson for Ribena told the Sun Online that the decision to cut sugar is to "help people be healthier and reduce obesity".
They said: "We first announced these plans in November 2016, and we also talked about it on the BBC TV programme ‘Inside The Factory’ this January.
"To get the recipe right, we undertook over 100 trials and 500 hours of work with a team of 100 people.
"We then got hundreds of Ribena fans to try the winning recipe and almost all of them thought it still tastes just as great as it always has, but we of course really appreciate all the feedback.
"We also wanted to reassure Sun readers that the sweeteners used as a sugar replacement in the new Ribena recipe and in any low or no calorie drink in the UK have been approved by all the relevant safety authorities and have been around for decades."
The brand has followed the likes of Irn-Bru and Robinsons Fruit Shoot who also swapped some of their sugar content for sweetener ahead of new tax rules.
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Medical journals have claimed long-term exposure to methylene chloride can cause headaches, depression, nausea, liver effects and cancer.
Other studies claim Polydextrose is “possibly safe” when taken in doses of less than 50 grams per day - 250ml of Ribena only contains 1.29g - but state they can causing flatulence, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea.
Irn-Bru bosses have confirmed production of full-sugar version of the drink has now ended.
AG Barr say - is now being used at its factories and will hit the shelves this month.
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