Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) has reduced the sugar content of Coca-Cola Life even further so it will contain 45 per cent less sugar and calories than regular colas.

The new recipe replaces the first version of Coca-Cola Life which was launched in Great Britain in September 2014 and contained a third less sugar and calories than regular colas.

Coca-Cola Life will continue to be sweetened with a blend of sugar and stevia plant extract but the recipe has been changed to include a greater level of stevia plant extract. A 330ml can of Coca-Cola Life will now contain 76 calories and 19 grams of sugar.

CCE general manager Leendert den Hollander said: “I’m delighted that through extensive research and development we’ve been able to reduce the sugar and calorie content even further without compromising the great taste of Coca-Cola Life. We’ve had a really positive reaction from consumers since we launched and it has been encouraging to see how many households have gone on to buy it again after they have tasted it. We think it will continue to appeal to consumers who are looking to reduce their sugar and calorie intake but do not want to switch to a sugar-free cola.

“Coca-Cola Life has an important role to play as part of our overall strategy to offer choice and raise awareness of our lower and no sugar options. In addition to regular Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Life, we also offer two variants with no sugar – Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero.

“Investing in reformulation is just one of the actions we are taking to help people reduce their sugar and calorie intake alongside offering smaller pack sizes, putting colour-coded nutrition labels on the front of all our bottles and cans and increasing the marketing investment in our no sugar colas.”

Coca-Cola Life is now worth £35 million in sales since launch in September 2014, according to Nielsen, and the new version of Coca-Cola Life will be available in stores from April onwards.