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Listen to this siteTuesday 16 October 2007
Tandragee-based company White's today became the first cereal processor in the UK to adopt the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) front of pack traffic light labelling scheme on its Speedicook product range.
The announcement was made by FSA Deputy Chair Ian Reynolds, at a reception attended by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey MLA, at Stormont.
The labelling system uses traffic light colours to give consumers information at a glance on the amounts of fat/saturated fat/sugar/salt contained in food, with a red light meaning the product contains a high amount, an amber light meaning medium and a green light meaning low.
White’s is the fifth Northern Ireland food manufacturer to begin using the Agency’s signpost labelling scheme on the front of their products after Moy Park, Avondale Foods, Mash Direct and Tasty Foods began using the system earlier this year.
Commenting on the announcement made at the reception, Director of FSA Northern Ireland Morris McAllister said: 'We are delighted to be able to announce that White’s Speedicook range of products will soon carry the traffic light colours. This really demonstrates that Northern Ireland food manufacturers are leading the way in adopting the traffic light labelling scheme.
'The introduction of front of pack traffic light colour coding should bring three main benefits: make it easier for consumers to eat more healthily, encourage consumers to look for and demand healthier foods, and provide businesses with an incentive to produce foods that are lower in salt, fat and sugar.
'As we all know, obesity is on the increase and poor diet is a contributory risk factor in heart disease, cancer and stroke. Last year in Northern Ireland 2,708 deaths were caused by heart disease and a further 1,307 were caused by stroke.'
Mark Gowdy, Sales and Marketing Manager of White’s, said: 'The introduction of the traffic light labelling system on our Speedicook products will mean that customers will be able to quickly see the nutritional benefits of eating oats – which are low in fat, salt, sugar.'
'We believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and want the whole family to take the time to enjoy the heart healthy benefits, natural goodness and versatility of our products. The traffic lights, which will soon appear on our products, will allow customers to see at a glance just how easy they are to include in a healthy balanced diet.'
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