SLIMMING World members have taken to social media after some popular foods are now being classed as 'syns'. 

The weight loss organisation gives every food item a 'syn' value so members can keep track of their eating plan and eat between five or 15 syns every day. 

A number of items which were previously classed as 'free', which meant members could eat them without worrying about weighing, counting or measuring them first, now have a value. 

Which food items have changed?

  • Muller Light yoghurts
  • Tinned pasta shapes in tomato sauce
  • Instant mashed potato

A Slimming World spokesman said: “Our Nutrition team routinely review our Food Optimising eating plan to ensure it’s up to date, in line with the latest guidance, and to take into account feedback from our 5,000 Consultants and 900,000 Slimming World members.

“As part of this process, we’ve been looking at how to give our vegan members more choice, and we’re delighted that a number of vegan foods, including canned jackfruit and plain and unsmoked seitan, can now be enjoyed freely by slimmers following our plan.

“In addition, a number of products – fat-free flavoured yogurts, tinned pasta shapes in tomato sauce and instant mashed potato – that were previously Free on our plan, meaning they could be eaten without weighing, counting or measuring, will now have a small Syn value (all food and drink that isn’t Free has a Syn value and members enjoy between five and 15 Syns daily)."

Why has this change been made? 

A spokesman added: "This is because some of these foods are often eaten in large amounts, as a ‘snack’ rather than being enjoyed as part of a meal, or because they’re less satisfying than alternatives, such as mashed potato made with fresh potatoes.

"As the new Syn values are still so low, Slimming World members can easily still include them within their daily choices, if that's what they choose to do, and fat-free natural yogurts, dried pasta and potatoes will continue to be Free.”