20 March 2006
ACFM Statement in Response to the Trading Standards Institute Survey of Children's Foods
Commenting on the Trading Standards Institute Report, a spokesperson from the Breakfast Cereal Information Service (BCIS) said:
"Breakfast cereals remain the most popular form of breakfast in the UK with 98% of households stocking cereals. In line with Government's pledge to provide better information to help consumers make healthier food choices, all breakfast cereal manufacturers include comprehensive nutritional information on their packs, and have adopted the use of Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA), which have proven effective in ensuring nutritional information is easy to read at a glance and increases consumer awareness of the link between diet and health."
"Members of the Association of Cereal Food Manufacturers (ACFM) have also achieved a 33% reduction in salt* from 1998 to 2005, which means that breakfast cereals now, on average, contain less than 0.4g of sodium per 100g. On average, cereals also contribute less than 6% of the average daily sugar intake in children and contain between 2 and 4% fat except those containing nuts and oilseeds (e.g. Muesli and Granola), which in turn provide added nutrients including essential fatty acids that are important for growth and development, and may help to maintain a healthy heart."
"Nutritionists and dietitians agree on the important role of breakfast cereals in child nutrition, behaviour and performance. With research showing that 1 in 5 children are still going to school on an empty stomach, breakfast cereals remain a quick and convenient option to help kick start the body for the day ahead and improve physical and mental performance."
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For further information contact the BCIS Team on:
Tel: 020 7815 3900
Email: info@breakfastcereal.org
Notes to Editor:
· All ACFM members already include comprehensive nutritional information on packs, informing consumers of the amount of energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate (including sugars), fibre and sodium (including salt) within breakfast cereals.
· Guideline Daily Amounts (GDA) enables consumers to make informed choice on balancing their diet by identifying the official recommended guideline levels for key nutrients and calories they consume each day.
· The latest salt reduction figures are sales weighted averages for branded breakfast cereals
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