Disadvantaged Families Get Healthy Boost

Low-income families now have the choice to buy frozen fruit and vegetables as part of the Healthy Start scheme, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley announced today.

The scheme supports over half a million pregnant women and low-income families by giving them vouchers that until now could only be spent on fresh fruit, vegetables and milk.

Andrew Lansley said: “Feeding a family on a limited budget can be a challenge. The addition of frozen fruit and vegetables is a boost to the Healthy Start scheme to help low-income families eat more healthily.

“Plain frozen fruit and vegetables count towards your 5-A-Day. Frozen goods are often cheaper than fresh and they can last longer so there is less food waste too.”

He added: “Pregnant women and parents with young families on low incomes will now have access to both fresh and frozen produce all year round to give their children the best start in life with an added incentive to achieve their five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.”

The Department of Health and devolved administrations conducted a joint UK – wide consultation on adding frozen fruit and vegetables to Healthy Start which ended in December 2010. Ninety per cent of the respondents were in favour of adding frozen fruit and vegetables to the scheme.

Low-income families on Healthy Start will now be able to use their vouchers on products such as frozen peas, spinach, carrots or frozen berries. Frozen products with added fat oil, salt, sugar or other ingredients such as oven chips or ready meals are excluded.

Parents can confidently cook with frozen fruit and vegetables because the nutritional value can be at least as good as fresh. Top celebrity chef Aldo Zilli fronts the 'New Ice Age campaign' that encourages people to use frozen foods more in cooking and highlights their nutritional benefits.

(BMcN/GK)