Food heavyweights support fuelled4life

Food heavyweights support fuelled4life

Some of New Zealand’s biggest food manufacturers and suppliers have put their weight behind the Heart Foundation’s fuelled4life programme, which is providing information on healthier food choices to 2500 schools and 4300 early childhood education (ECE) services.

Fuelled4life is a collaborative initiative that involves the education, health, and food industry sectors working together. It is designed to be a tool that makes it easier for schools and ECE services to select tasty, nutritious products to offer to children.

NZ Food & Grocery Council CEO Katherine Rich says fuelled4life is a great initiative, and the first day of the new school term is a great time to be highlighting the collaborative work behind it.

“Ensuring that the very best information is available to schools and early childhood services on food is vital to the health and well-being of the next generation of New Zealanders.

“The Food & Grocery Council is a big supporter of improved food information for our children, first as part of the Healthy Eating Healthy Action initiatives, and now as part of fuelled4life.”

Fuelled4life is the brand name for the Food and Beverage Classification System in schools and ECE services, and is based on the Ministry of Health’s Food and Nutrition Guidelines. Under the classification system, foods and beverages are classified according to their nutrient profile, and the system identifies the healthier options. Products are divided into two levels for registration: ‘Everyday’ and ‘Sometimes’, and participating companies can use the distinctive logos (attached) to identify each product type.

‘Everyday’ foods and drinks are intended to reflect the healthiest choices, while ‘Sometimes’ foods and drinks are intended to be consumed in moderation.

Fuelled4life also supports innovation in the food industry related to the production of healthier foods and beverages that children will want. This is done via the publication of a Buyers’ Guide, which is both online and in hard copy.

“An impressive number of FGC members have registered with the programme, populating the fuelled4life Buyers’ Guide with many product ranges after just a few weeks’ operation,” Mrs Rich says.

“The range of foods is impressive, and I’m confident that as the programme gathers momentum more companies will join.”

FGC manufacturers and suppliers listed in the guide as at 30 March are: ABE'S Bagels, Charlies, Coca-Cola Amatil, Enzafoods, Frucor Beverages, Goodman Fielder, Griffins, Heinz Wattie's, McCain, Prolife Foods, Sealord, Unilever, Vitaco Health.

For more information go to http://www.fuelled4life.org.nz/

ENDS

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