26 31 ou y w t re ng?

One of your five a day

To use the official ‘one of our five a day’ logo, a food or dish must rovide at least 80g of fruit and or vegetaes per serving, says Fiona. It cannot be sed on food which contains any added t, salt or sugar, but some manufacturers se their ‘own’ similar-looking five-a-day go (although the food must still supply t least 80g of fruit and or veg).

Helps maintain a healthy heart

“This is a health aim so must comply with U regulations, which equire manufacturers to ubmit evidence to support he claim,” says Fiona.

Fresh

There’s no legal definition so shoppers assume the product is sold within a short time after production or harvesting – but this may not necessarily be the case, explains Azmina Govindji, Consultant Nutritionist to Love Canned Food (lovecannedfood.com). It’s important to check the label rather than assume the food is healthy. She adds: “However, canning is simply a way of enjoying food with an extended shelf life. You get roughly the same amount of vitamin A and E, minerals and fibre as you would from the same food if it were fresh or frozen.”

Sugar-free

Honey and apple juice are still forms of sugar – even if they sound healthier. And the product may be packed with artificial sweeteners. Read the label.

Low-fat

“By law, a product labelled as low-fat must contain no more than 3g fat per 100g for solid or 1.5g fat per 100g for liquid, explains Fiona. The exception is semi-skimmed milk which can be labelled as low-fat but contains 1.7g fat per 100mls.

With Omega 3s

When you see ‘source of omega 3 fatty acids’ on a label, the manufacturer has had to comply with strict guidelines on the amount and type of omega 3 fatty acids contained, explains

Azmina.

This is the RSPCA’S labelling and assurance scheme (previously known as Freedom Food) dedicated to improving welfare standards for farm animals reared indoors and outdoors. The mark can be found on meat, poultry, salmon, dairy and egg products from farm animals.

This distinctive little red tractor logo represents food produced in Britain which meets certain quality standards for food safety, hygiene and the environment.

The red lion logo appears on eggs which meet the minimum legislative requirements for animal welfare. It doesn’t guarantee that hens are free-range or have high welfare conditions.

The Soil Association organic logo covers animal welfare, conservation and GM but, unlike ‘Freedom Food’, only applies to animals reared outdoors.

This scheme for beef and lamb provides one of the highest levels of independently inspected quality assurance for meat in the UK.

The Fairtrade mark is the only UK certification scheme for fairly traded products. Without the mark, claims that a product is fairly traded, sustainable or ethical are toothless.

This recognises and rewards sustainable fishing practices, and is helping to create a more sustainable seafood market. The Pasture-fed Livestock Association is a farmer-led organisation that promotes the health, welfare and environmental benefits of raising cattle and sheep exclusively on grass and forage crops.

Rspca-assured: Red tractor: Fairtrade: Lion mark: Soil Association: Quality Standard Mark: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Eco label: Pasture for Life: As a nation, we throw away nearly 122 million items of food every month, according to online...

This is usually found on longer-lasting foods, such as frozen, dried or canned foods. They are still safe after this date, providing they have been stored correctly. Once opened, however, treat as fresh food and observe advice such as ‘eat within three...