Marks & Spencer today became the first retailer to announce it has significantly cut levels of saturated fat by as much as 82% across products such as sandwiches, ready meals, crisps and savoury snacks – everyday foods that can make significant contributions to saturated fat levels in people’s diets.
The move - involving over 500 products - follows the retailer’s groundbreaking achievement in removing hydrogenated fat from all foods in 2006.
On average M&S crisps and savoury snacks now contain 70% less saturated fat than two years ago and sandwiches 30% less. Work is also underway to reduce saturated fats in ready meals, typically by 20%. M&S has reduced saturated fat levels by increasing the use of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats such as Sun KernelTm oil, which contains less saturated fat than standard sunflower oil and even olive oil, and reducing the amount of saturated fat, and fats generally by reviewing the ingredients used in recipe development.
David Gregory, Technical Director at Marks & Spencer said: “At the heart of our “Plan A” announcement earlier this year, was our commitment to help customers lead a healthier lifestyle. Our ongoing work to reduce saturated fat levels in our food and improve the fat profile of our foods in general - without compromising on taste - will make it easier for customers to improve their diet”.
Marks & Spencer’s announcement comes as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) prepares to report on its consultation on saturated fat and energy intakes1 and has been welcomed by the FSA.
Rosemary Hignett, Head of Nutrition at the FSA, said: “The FSA is currently looking at ways to encourage people to reduce saturated fat in their diets. Food retailers have an important role to play in providing attractive, healthy foods for consumers to buy. We are delighted that M&S has reduced saturated fat in some of its key products and welcome the achievement made to date.”
In addition to reducing fat levels, M&S is increasing the Eat Well2 offer across its ranges, which now account for over 30% of food sales. Since the beginning of 2007 the retailer has also begun labelling its food with front of pack nutrition labelling, using both the traffic light systems recommended by the FSA and Guideline Daily Amount percentages – again designed to make it easier for customers to make healthy choices.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Examples of saturated fat reduction in M&S food
| Product |
Previous saturated fat level per 100g |
New saturated fat level per 100g |
% reduction |
| Full on Flavour Salt & Vinegar Crisps |
12 |
3 |
79% |
| Reduced Fat Crinkle Crisps – Four Cheese |
10 |
2 |
82% |
| Hoisin Duck Wrap |
2.1 |
1.4 |
33% |
| Prawn Mayonnaise Sandwich |
2.8 |
2 |
28% |
| Shortcrust Steak Pie (550g) |
9 |
7.2 |
20% |
| Steak & Kidney Pudding (195g) |
6.2 |
5.7 |
8% |
1. In March 2007 the Food Standards Agency (FSA) published a consultation to explore ways of reducing the average amount of saturated fat in people's diets and help make it easier for people to eat more healthily.
FSA data collated as part of the Nutrition Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that, on average, men consume 33 grams of saturated fat a day, and women 23 grams per day. This equates to average intakes by adults of saturated fat of 13.3% of food energy. Experts recommend that we should get no more than 11% of daily energy from saturated fat, which across the population means about a 17% reduction in current intakes.
2. M&S Eat Well products - identified by a sunflower symbol - are free from artificial flavourings, colours and sweeteners and are either recognised by nutritionists as foods that contribute towards a healthier diet or are nutritionally balanced for calories, fats, saturated fat and salt. They may also contain one or more added benefits such as being low in fat, high in fibre or rich in omega-3 oils, part of the five-a-day fruit and vegetable intake and a source of vitamins and minerals
M&S food facts
HVO’s – In 2006 we were the first retailer to remove HVO’s from our entire food production
Additives - M&S only uses 180 additives across all foods - this equates to 50% of known additives (360 in total)
Aspartame – In June 2007 M&S replaced Aspartame with Sucralose in its foods
99% of M&S food is free from artificial colours and flavourings
We have 1,500 Healthy Eating Assistants in our stores and we are extending the same training, developed in collaboration with the British Nutrition Foundation, to all staff in food halls within 3 years
GM-free food – we maintain our policy of only selling food made with non-GM ingredients
Salt Reduction Programme – M&S leads the way in salt reduction - meeting the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) 2010 targets in the categories of sandwiches, cooking sauces, pasta sauces, cakes and fruit pies 3 years ahead of deadline. This is in addition to its earlier success in meeting FSA targets for breakfast cereals, ready meals and bread.
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