LIVINGLIVING
FOOD
NEWS
NEW LABEL
FOR HEALTH
WASTE NOT WANT NOT
Field Fare was launched 40 years
ago with what was then the visionary
idea of selling A-class fresh fruit and
vegetables frozen direct from the field
to independent retailers. These foods
are sold in a loose, scoop-and-serve
format. The environmental boasts for this
unprecedented model remain progressive
and impressive, pioneering packaging and
food waste reduction (and still improving
on it). Field Fare is now launching new
biodegradable bags for their frozen,
loose-serve lines encouraging customers
to use their own bags and containers
where possible. They also have ecocredentials
for the packaging of their
ready meal range packaging.
A new One Poll survey* has found that a
third of shoppers find it difficult to know
which foods to choose for a healthy diet.
The survey results come as Waitrose
launches a new label which will be
featured on hundreds of nutritious food
and drink products to make it easier for
customers to make healthier choices.
The new Good Health label now shows
on many of the supermarket's own-brand
products and a number of new healthier
products will also be launching soon,
many of which incorporate vegetables
in innovative ways in response to the
growing demand for plant-based protein.
Every product carrying the Good
Health label has been assessed by a team
of nutritionists and meet stricter criteria
based on government guidelines for fat,
saturated fat, added sugar and salt, and
so won't appear on products with red
traffic lights, apart from where the fats and
sugars are naturally occurring.
The nutritional benefits of the products
Food waste, plastics and unnecessary
packaging are in the news. The
Government's 25 Year Environment Plan
announced a new initiative from WRAP
and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, to
specifically tackle plastic packaging, with
a promise to "achieve zero avoidable
plastic waste by the end of 2042." At Field
Fare it's been news since 1977.
Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha,
authors of Life Without Plastic, were
quoted in The Mail Online in February of
this year saying, "Field Fare sells frozen
fruit, vegetables and bakery goods loose
from chest freezers at farm shops around
the country, encouraging shoppers to take
their own bags, so food can be decanted
into freezeable containers when at home."
will be clearly signposted on packaging,
including claims such as whether they're
high in, or a source of, vitamins, minerals
and other nutrients - as well as information
on how this in turn benefits health.
Indicators such as 'high in fibre', 'Source
of Vitamin D' and '1 of your 5 a day'
should help people to make healthier
choices.
New healthier products launching
this month include meat sausages which
are also packed with up to 35% fruit,
vegetables or pulses, such as quinoa,
cauliflower, kale and lentils.
*One Poll survey of 1,000 UK adults (not
limited to Waitrose shoppers), questioned
between 28/11/2017 and 30/11/2017,
commissioned for Waitrose Weekend.
DARK MATTERS
Founded by two friends, WOW was
born out of a genuine desire to inspire
and make people feel amazing via chia
seed based drinks, WOW is the first and
currently only company in Europe to be
granted Food Standard Agency (FSA)
approval for chia seed beverages. The
newest addition to its product range is
Dark Detox, an activated charcoal drink
in three flavours: Lemon; Lemon & Mint,
and Raspberry in two sizes, 250ml and
750m. Available at Waitrose, Ocado and
Sainsbury's from £1.89 and are now part
of the Boots Meal Deal. The drinks are a
blend of cold-pressed juice, filtered water,
agave and activated charcoal, which
helps maintain a healthy digestive tract by
removing toxins. The drink is jet black but
the activated charcoal is tasteless.