Healthier and tastier food basket at a store near you soon

Healthier and tastier food basket at a store near you soon

The New Zealand food and grocery industry was focusing on the future food and grocery needs of New Zealanders when they met in Wellington last week for their annual conference.

FGC Chief Executive Katherine Rich says "Investment in new generation products and innovative marketing is continually increasing our members' ability to market more convenient and healthier foods.

"Healthy eating and a balanced diet is a high priority for most people - particularly in households with children. Food companies and retailers are continually working to deliver options for a balanced diet and the progress to date has delivered major benefits across the board.

"Over the last five years our members have made significant progress in the reformulation of foods so that they can offer healthier choices to people who wish to increase their intake of fibre or reduce their salt, fat and/or sugar intake.

"Sadly a tendency persists amongst some public health activists to see ingredient restrictions, red-light labels or fat taxes on our food supply as the only solution to health issues related to food consumption.

"This is despite hard evidence from New Zealand's latest national nutrition survey that shows significant shifts towards New Zealanders lowering their saturated fat and sugar intake.

"Real progress for healthier lifestyles for Kiwis can only come through 'shared solutions' involving the food industry, academics and public sector health advisors working together constructively. FGC and its member companies are committed to doing this.

"Academics and public sector health advisors hold valuable health and nutrition knowledge while the food industry has the expertise in food technology, consumer behaviour and marketing, so all parties can bring vital skills to the table.

"Working more closely with food companies also makes good sense, because it can only accelerate the improvements in food intake and New Zealand's food supply.

"There are some important limitations to what the grocery sector can achieve that need to be understood. While we can all work hard to educate and provide a range of healthier food choices, personal choice and personal responsibility is important. The food industry cannot make Kiwis eat things they don't want to.

"There is also a limit to what can be achieved with any product reformulation project. Good taste is often determined by salt, sugar and fat. Products can only be reformulated so far before they taste like cardboard. Once again a balanced diet is the key."

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