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Dolmio and Uncle Ben's firm advises limit on products Dolmio and Uncle Ben's firm Mars advises limit on products
(35 minutes later)
The firm behind Dolmio pasta sauces and Uncle Ben's rice says some products should only be consumed once a week due to high salt, sugar or fat content.The firm behind Dolmio pasta sauces and Uncle Ben's rice says some products should only be consumed once a week due to high salt, sugar or fat content.
Mars Food said it would distinguish between "everyday" and "occasional" items on packs and website.Mars Food said it would distinguish between "everyday" and "occasional" items on packs and website.
The company said some foods were higher in salt, sugar or fat to maintain the "authentic" taste of products.The company said some foods were higher in salt, sugar or fat to maintain the "authentic" taste of products.
The advice is part of its Health and Wellbeing Ambition to "create and promote healthier food choices".The advice is part of its Health and Wellbeing Ambition to "create and promote healthier food choices".
Mars told the BBC that just 5% of its products would be labelled "occasional".Mars told the BBC that just 5% of its products would be labelled "occasional".
These include Dolmio lasagne sauces, pesto, and carbonara and macaroni oven kits.These include Dolmio lasagne sauces, pesto, and carbonara and macaroni oven kits.
'More work to do''More work to do'
Mars said its website would be updated over the next few months with a list of "occasional" products to be eaten not more than once a week, and "everyday" ones.Mars said its website would be updated over the next few months with a list of "occasional" products to be eaten not more than once a week, and "everyday" ones.
Those products, including Uncle Ben's oriental sauces, are to be reformulated over the next five years to cut salt, sugar or fat.Those products, including Uncle Ben's oriental sauces, are to be reformulated over the next five years to cut salt, sugar or fat.
Shoppers will see the new guidance appearing on websites in the coming months.Shoppers will see the new guidance appearing on websites in the coming months.
Nutritionist Laura De La Harpe told BBC Radio 5 live it should not be difficult to reduce the sugar content of products.
"The tomatoes are quite sweet anyway," she said. "I think they need to trial it I suppose, and just bring it right down to a natural level. I think what would concern me would be in they start adding sweeteners, artificial sweeteners to replace the sugar."
Among the foods classified as "occasional" products by Mars are:Among the foods classified as "occasional" products by Mars are:
Adults are recommended to have 70g fat a day, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar and 6g salt.Adults are recommended to have 70g fat a day, 20g saturated fat, 90g sugar and 6g salt.
Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, a charity that raises awareness about the condition, described the move by Mars as "imaginative".
"Mars signposted their direction of travel towards healthier products several years ago and are now putting their money where their mouth is," he said.
"In general we have lost the concept of a treat - something extra tasty to be looked forward to at the end of a long week or on a special occasion."
Analysis
By the BBC's Helen Briggs
Whose responsibility is it to make sure we eat healthy food and shouldn't the sugar tax apply to all foods, not just soft drinks?
These are some of the questions being asked following the announcement by Mars that some of its products - such as pasta sauces and pesto - should be eaten only occasionally.
A tax on sugary soft drinks will take effect in two years' time - giving food manufacturers a nudge towards cutting sugar.
But in the food sector the government relies on industry to self-regulate. According to campaign group Campaign for Action on Salt reformulation is key, but while it remains voluntary many companies are failing to do this.
One of the UK's leading nutrition experts, Prof Tom Sanders, says the Mars move sounds like "Martian spin" as there's no need to add large amounts of salt to cook-in sauces - and these foods should be everyday foods not treats.
Nutritionist Laura De La Harpe told BBC Radio 5 live it should not be difficult to reduce the sugar content of products.
"What would concern me would be if they start adding sweeteners, artificial sweeteners to replace the sugar," she said.
Mars said its "nutrition criteria" has been developed based on recommendations from leading public health authorities such as the World Health Organization.Mars said its "nutrition criteria" has been developed based on recommendations from leading public health authorities such as the World Health Organization.
Fiona Dawson, a global president of Mars, said: "Our nutrition criteria sets a very high standard for our products, and we also want to help our consumers understand the difference between 'everyday' and 'occasional' products within a balanced diet.Fiona Dawson, a global president of Mars, said: "Our nutrition criteria sets a very high standard for our products, and we also want to help our consumers understand the difference between 'everyday' and 'occasional' products within a balanced diet.
"The food industry has already made great strides in reducing sodium, but we have more work to do to help consumers reduce sodium intake."The food industry has already made great strides in reducing sodium, but we have more work to do to help consumers reduce sodium intake.
"We support release of the US FDA's draft sodium reduction guidance, because we believe it's important to begin a stakeholder dialogue about the role industry can play in this critical part of consumers' diets.""We support release of the US FDA's draft sodium reduction guidance, because we believe it's important to begin a stakeholder dialogue about the role industry can play in this critical part of consumers' diets."
The move comes after Chancellor George Osborne announced a sugar tax, with the aim of tackling childhood obesity, in his recent Budget.The move comes after Chancellor George Osborne announced a sugar tax, with the aim of tackling childhood obesity, in his recent Budget.