Foodsolutions

Citation

(2009), "Foodsolutions", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 39 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.2009.01739eab.021

Foodsolutions

Article Type: Food facts From: Nutrition & Food Science, Volume 39, Issue 5.

Initiative to remove 575,000 grams of saturated fat award-winning contract caterer ARAMARK has teamed-up with the Flora[1] team to launch a one-month campaign entitled “The Big Fat Truth”, to raise awareness of the health risks associated with saturated fats. The project will be implemented across 117 of ARAMARK's healthcare and education sites[2]. It will see ARAMARK highlighting the benefits of choosing healthier options by replacing butter with Flora Original spread portions and using Flora Original spread, instead of butter, on sandwiches[3], toast, bread and jacket potatoes.

The initiative has been launched to coincide with the Government's high profile Saturated Fat campaign and will see a total of 575,000 grams of saturated fat removed from staff, student and visitor diets during the month long period.

The amount of saturated fat removed would be equivalent to that contained in:

• •

  356,900 rashers of bacon[4];

• •

  193,947 jam-filled donuts[5]; or

• •

  171,395 cheddar cheese portions[6].

The initiative will reduce the amount of saturated fat eaten across all mealtime and snack occasions, and underlines ARAMARK's ongoing commitment to health and well-being in the workplace.

Research from the World Health Organisation shows that we can help keep our hearts healthy by making small but effective lifestyle changes such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and eating healthily e.g. less saturated fat[7]. The joint initiative aims to increase awareness of good and bad fats through informative point-of-sales materials, whilst offering Flora Original spread as a healthier alternative to butter.

With one 10 g portion of butter containing 78 per cent more saturated fat than the same amount of Flora Original Spread, Flora can be positioned as the healthier choice.

Claire Sullivan, marketing director, Unilever Foodsolutions comments: “Unilever takes its responsibility towards the health of its customers very seriously. The Big Fat Truth is a great opportunity to show customers how easy it is to reduce their saturated fat intake with a healthier fat spread such as Flora Original. The Flora team has been championing healthy hearts for over 40 years and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with ARAMARK to raise awareness of this important health issue. Unilever has already taken the decision to remove butter from its UK offices, as part of our responsibility to contribute to the positive health of our employees”.

Val Carter, CR director, ARAMARK UK observes: “As a caterer that operates more than 1,000 locations[8], I believe we have a duty to educate customers about healthier options. The Big Fat Truth initiative will help to generate awareness about the high saturated fat content of butter, whilst demonstrating the health benefits of switching to vegetable fat spreads such as Flora Original spread.”

Notes

1. 1.

   Flora is a brand made by Unilever.

2. 2.

   One hundred and nine higher and further education outlets and eight healthcare outlets (visitor and staff feeding).

3. 3.

   Sandwiches prepared on site, pre-packaged sandwiches might still contain butter.

4. 4.

   Based on standard thickness bacon.

5. 5.

   Based on average sized supermarket bakery donuts.

6. 6.

   Based on 20 g mini cheddar cheese portions.

7. 7.

   WHO (2007).

8. 8.

   ARAMARK operates more than 1,000 locations in the UK and offshore.