Page 34 Health and nutrition


Health and nutrition
As a leading UK food retailer, Waitrose has an important role to play in providing reliable information to address current issues such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and helping our customers to make informed choices about the food they eat.

We firmly believe that a balanced diet is a key component of health and wellbeing, so we actively consider nutrition when developing our products, selecting ingredients that are safe to eat, taste good and meet the highest nutritional standards. And in support of the Government's goals for reducing saturated fat intake and the risk of heart disease, we continue to develop healthier everyday choices. These include reduced- or half-fat varieties, and since January 2008, a number of ready meals and desserts that are low in saturated fat.


Labelled with love
We firmly believe that clear front-of-pack labelling can assist customers in making healthier choices, so we are continuing to highlight key nutritional benefits such as Omega 3 and '5 a day', and aim to have all nutrition messages in a standard black-and-white format by the end of 2009. Over 1,000 products now carry the Food Standards Agency (FSA) 'multiple traffic light' labelling on their packaging, and all recipe cards and publications carry key nutritional information per serving.
Our work with suppliers also continues, with a focus on reformulation to improve the nutritional and allergen profile of our products, and remove unnecessary additives. Our work on the 2010 FSA salt reduction targets is nearing completion for many categories.

(Picture of fruit and vegetable pieces on a fork)

In March 2008,Waitrose appointed celebrated chef Neil Nugent to the newly created role of Executive Chef, helping us to maintain quality and enhance our product development programme.


Nutrition and dietary advice
Through our online Nutrition Advice Service, customers and health professionals can get help and advice on a wide range of food issues. Our fact sheets on common dietary conditions remain popular, and we provide information on own-label products that are free from eggs, gluten, milk and nuts. Our first 'Meet the Expert' events, held in our Cheltenham, Salisbury and Southend shops in January 2008, not only showcased our new range of healthier ready meals but gave customers the chance to consult our Nutrition team face to face.


Promoting responsible drinking
As a leading drinks retailer, we promote responsible drinking and prevent under-age sales through a combination of labelling, signage and other communications with customers, earning us two consecutive Responsible Drinks Retailing Awards.

Other initiatives include:
> producing the Alcohol and You brochure in conjunction with Alcohol in Moderation (AIM)
> sponsoring AIM's Drinking and You website, as well as providing alcohol and health advice on www.waitrose.com
> introducing calorie and units of alcohol labelling, as well as the Department of Health's recommended limits, on our own-brand products.