Swiggy, a leading online food delivery platform, has officially launched its new 'No Added Sugar' category, a strategic move aimed at empowering users to adopt healthier eating habits. This dedicated section on the platform is designed to streamline the process for consumers to easily discover and order food items that either contain no added sugar or are naturally sweetened, responding to the growing demand for mindful dietary choices.

The 'No Added Sugar' category is immediately available across 10 major Indian cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune. Swiggy has also announced its intention to progressively extend this offering to more cities in the upcoming weeks, as detailed in an official press release.

Consumers can explore a vast selection within this new category, which comprises over 1.5 lakh food items sourced from more than 50,000 partner restaurants. This extensive range is set to make conscious and healthy eating significantly more accessible. The category allows users to indulge in popular items such as ice cream, cakes, pastries, traditional Indian sweets, and various beverages like tea and coffee, all prepared without the addition of free sugars.

This initiative follows Swiggy's prior introduction of a 'High Protein' category in July of the same year. Both Swiggy and its primary competitor, Zomato – the dominant players in the Indian online food delivery market – are increasingly focusing on the burgeoning health and wellness trend. Their objective is to attract India's fitness-conscious diners, a segment that also offers opportunities to bolster profit margins, according to a report by Mint.

To cater to diverse consumer preferences, the 'No Added Sugar' category is thoughtfully structured into two distinct sub-categories:

• Naturally Sweetened: This sub-category highlights food items prepared using natural ingredients as sweeteners. Examples include dates, whole fruits, and fruit purees. Specific products available in this section include Date & Nut Smoothie, Banana Pancakes, Apple Cinnamon Oats, and Fig & Almond Energy Bars.
• Not Sweetened: This section provides sugarless versions of widely consumed beverages and desserts. The selection boasts over 20,000 types of ice creams, more than 12,000 varieties of juices, over 10,000 hot beverages (including tea and coffee), and over 7,000 cakes available in the launch cities.

A fundamental principle of this new category is its strict adherence to contemporary health and nutrition standards. All listed products are guaranteed to be free from 'free sugars,' which encompass sucrose, jaggery, honey, and other highly processed artificial sweeteners, ensuring the integrity of the health claim.

Commenting on future plans, Deepak Maloo, Vice President of Food Strategy, Customer Experience & New Initiatives at Swiggy, reiterated the company's ongoing commitment. He stated, “We are committed to constantly adding new dishes, expanding to more cities and improving the product basis customer feedback. Looking ahead, we also intend to enhance transparency by clearly outlining the source of the sweetener—be it dates, monk fruit, or others—ensuring you always make the most informed choice.” This forward-thinking approach underscores Swiggy's dedication to continuous improvement and providing greater clarity to its health-aware customer base.