The closure of the factory in McIntosh, Alabama, was announced in May along with the company’s annual results, which showed a 38% fall in pre-tax profit.

Production of sucralose at the US plant – whose capacity had in recent years been more than doubled – will be halted to centralise manufacturing at a newer factory in Singapore.

Sucralose is a low-calorie sugar substitute artificial sweetener derived from sugar which is used in soft drinks and food. In the EU it is also known as €955.

The closure will cost Tate & Lyle $97m in the current financial year, although the company expects this sum to be recouped eventually.