The National Heart Foundation of Australia today announced it will be ending its Tick licensing program in the takeaway food environment. Heart Foundation CEO Dr Lyn Roberts said, “We knew working in this area would be a bold move – and it was – but our work behind the scenes has seen massive improvements across the food supply chain, including healthier oils now being used in many takeaway and catering food outlets. “This even led to a change in the type of canola grown by Australian... ...Read more »

McCain Foods Australia and New Zealand has announced a new “overarching global company philosophy”, pledging to “spread the goodness” with reformulation of products to eliminate additives or preservatives, emphasise its School Veggie Patches campaigns and highlight the benefits of fresh-frozen foods, and increase product transparency, which it says is “sure to further strengthen McCain Foods reputation in Australia and New Zealand.” “McCAIN has always been... ...Read more »

Cereal Partners Worldwide, a global joint venture of Nestlé SA and General Mills Inc, announced today that 44 of the company’s Australian cereal brands – including Uncle Toby’s, Cheerios and Milo cereals – will carry the Heart Foundation Tick in 2011. Only two of the cereal brands, which are marketed by Nestlé in Australia, missed out on the tick – a new achievement for the category. “CPW is delighted that almost all of our cereals have earned the Heart Foundation... ...Read more »

A study conducted by Menzies Research Institute Tasmania (Menzies) suggests that skipping breakfast over a long period of time may increase risk of heart disease and diabetes. The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, the National Heart Foundation, the Tasmanian Community Fund, and Veolia Environmental Services, examined data from a national study to compare breakfast habits to health risk factors. First... ...Read more »

Sunny Queen Farms, one of Australia’s foremost egg producers, has launched a new product that should have chefs breathing a collective sigh of relief. It’s a fresh egg snap frozen, pasteurised, and HACCP and Halal – approved, so no nasty case of salmonella on the side. Simple steps for preparing in the combi or microwave mean greater consistency in presentation. But more importantly, the eggs leave zero risk of a contamination crisis, which is probably a chef’s worst nightmare.... ...Read more »

A Heart Foundation investigation into margarine and butter has shown that butter has, on average, 20 times the trans fat levels of margarine. “This news will come as a big surprise to many people who choose butter believing that it’s ‘natural’ and therefore healthier – but it simply isn’t the case,” said Susan Anderson, the Heart Foundation’s National Director Healthy Weight “Butter is mostly made of the fat that raises your bad cholesterol levels – saturated fat at... ...Read more »

The Heart Foundation and National Stroke Foundation today expressed disappointment that neither major political party has offered a national action plan addressing Australia’s leading cause of death – cardiovascular disease. The two Foundations called on major parties to commit themselves to a comprehensive national action plan for this largely preventable disease, saying funds invested would reduce costs, save lives and ease the strain on hospitals. It would also reduce the incidence... ...Read more »

A new agreement, aiming to reduce New Zealanders’ salt intake, was signed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and the Heart Foundation yesterday. The Memorandum of Understandin formalises the relationship between the two closely-linked organisations, allowing the two organisations to share information and avoid duplicating work. “Our organisations are both dedicated to improving the safety and suitability of the food supply, and this agreement provides the framework for working together... ...Read more »

The Heart Foundation and Coles supermarkets are embroiled in a dispute over the logo of the Coles Smart Buy own-brand line, which features a red tick in a yellow circle on a white background. According to National Heart Foundation healthy weight director Susan Anderson, consumers are confusing the Coles tick with the Heart Foundation’s logo. “We receive many calls and emails from outraged shoppers who have been tricked by phony ticks on the supermarket shelf and we’re very concerned... ...Read more »

The National Heart Foundation of Australia has released a summary of research on antioxidants which warns that drinking red wine or coffee and eating chocolate to prevent heart disease will not achieve expected results. The Heart Foundation reviewed over 100 studies to confirm that eating fruit and vegetables and drinking tea helps lower your risk of heart disease. The Heart Foundation’s advice to consumers is not to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease by eating chocolate (milk or dark),... ...Read more »