‘New’ NCC report fails to recognise Co-op progress

CONSUMERS who rely on supermarket economy-range foods could be short-changed on their health, according to the National Consumer Council&#039s latest in-store spotcheck report.
The report – Short-changed on health – How supermarkets affect your chances of a healthy diet -rates the UK&#039s top eight supermarkets on what they&#039re doing to help their customers shop, cook and eat more healthily and, in what a Co-op spokeswoman acknowledges is a disappointing outcome, the Movement slips to joint fifth place this time, compared to last year&#039s top placing.
But the spokeswoman told the News that, as the survey was carried out in the Co-op Group food store in Hove, East Sussex, in July, the results do not take into account recent and current activity on promoting healthy eating habits.
The spokeswoman highlighted the launch of the Co-op Simply range of products in September, which incorporates the Food Standards Agency&#039s traffic light labelling scheme and said that CRTG is committed to rolling this out across its entire range, along with Guideline Daily Amounts.
"The first products to carry both sets of information will be our Healthy Living range, which is being re-launched in January," said the spokeswoman. "All products within this range will meet FSA salt target levels and will be free from hydrogenated fats in line with our commitment to remove hydrogenated vegetable oils from the production of all our own-label products by March next year. We have also pledged to reduce salt levels for all our products, including economy." Further coverage in the News published on Tuesday 12th December.