Mevio UK

Food packaging could soon be revolutionised with a label that changes colour to let you know when the food has gone off.

A British company launched the smart labels that are “activated” when a package is opened and changes colour using a traffic light system to show whether the produce is safe to eat or not.

Pre-packaged foods such as ham or cheese need to be eaten within a certain number of days despite the use by date on the front.

The new label system is hoped to cut down on food waste as many customers throw out food they think has gone off when it hasn’t.  On average a British consumer throws away £700 worth of edible food each yeah because they are being over cautious with their food.

Professor Andrew Mills invented the technology for the “smart plastic” when he worked at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow and has spent the last five years refining the idea.

The labels were launched today by Insignia Technologies.  They say they have had interest from supermarkets and retailers in the UK, France and America while each label will add roughly 2p to the cost of the item of food.

The idea is not just limited and experts are already working on similar systems for fresh fruit and vegetables, food and drink in jars or bottles, and cosmetics such as mascara or contact lens solution.

Prof Mills, who now works as a professor in Materials Chemistry at Queen’s University, Belfast, said, “It is a huge development for consumers and for the food industry. It has got real potential.  We have all gone to the fridge and thought ‘I can’t remember how long ago I opened that’, and we err on the side of caution and tend to throw it away.”

Plans from Walkers crisps to make their products using real meal will no doubt anger vegetarians.

The crisps have for years used no real bacon or chicken etc but relied heavily on artificial flavours.   The move to real ingredients comes from an attempt to shake off the “junk food” tag but will anger vegetarians who have been able to tuck into the snacks for years.

In an online forum one vegetarian wrote, “Whether this is simply a publicity stunt planned by the marketing department to cause public outcry, or whether Walkers think this change in ingredients will increase their profits, I will certainly be contacting them to let them know how I feel, and urge you to do the same.”

Another added, “The more people that e-mail them, the more likely they will be to reconsider the new ingredients.”

The reaction has caused Walkers to reassure them that their products will continue to remain ethical, “I am really sorry that you will no longer be able to enjoy Walkers roast chicken and smokey bacon flavoured crisps.  I can understand your concerns over this matter however; we are using only free-range chicken and freedom food pork to ensure the highest standard of animal welfare.”

Britons are the worst spreaders of illnesses such as flu due to having the worst hygiene.

Doctors say that we are taking fewer precautions than people in other countries including America, Mexico, Japan and Argentina.

In fact, so bad are we that we face the possibility of leaving the country wide open to an epidemic.

The news comes after an international survey showed that the UK fails to follow simple rules such as washing hands and sneezing into a tissue.

Just one in five people actively try to keep their distance from people with flu like symptoms and fewer avoided shopping centres or sporting events during the flu season. 

Research was carried out in the UK, the US, Argentina, Japan and Mexico after the 2009 H1N1 swine flu pandemic.  In each of the countries they were asked how they had changed their behaviour  when there was a risk of catching the virus and it was found that Britons consistently had the most careless attitude.

Flu expert Professor John Oxford, a virologist at the University of London, said the results were, “terribly disappointing.”  He added, “We have a lot to learn about avoiding infection.  One explanation is that we’ve become complacent because we think drugs will always be available but it’s very likely we will get a novel infection at some stage when it will be critical to do these basic things to stop us getting it.”

It seems even our chocolate is getting slimmer as our nation’s favourite Mars bar is losing some calories.

The Mars bar limited edition, Caramel, will be on sale soon with some 20 per cent fewer calories.

The Mars Caramel, does not have the original’s thick layer of nougat, has already been a hit in the US, Canada and Australia and will be available here next month.

It weighs less than our usual favourite at 45g and contains 204 calories, compared to a regular Mars bar weighing 58g with 260 calories.

The introduction of the healthier caramel bar is expected to be closely followed by slimmer versions of of the brand’s other treats including Snickers, Galaxy, Maltesers, Bounty, Twix and Topic.

The measures are part of a ‘ Responsibility Deal Pledge’ where the company pledged that all its chocolate snacks will be cut to less than 250 calories by the end of 2013.

A spokesman said, “We believe that all of our products can be enjoyed as part of a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet – our commitment to making all our chocolate products no more than 250 calories per portion reflects this.  These changes form part of our on-going efforts to encourage responsible consumption, and will come into effect globally by the end of next year.”

Mars aren’t the first company to cut down the size of their chocolate although rivals Cadbury cut the size of a number of its products in recent years due to financial reasons, rather than a bid to tackle obesity.

Last year, the size of their 140g bar of Cadbury Dairy Milk was reduced to to 120g, while its traditional circular Roses tins was cut from from 975g to 850g.

We’re a nation of pet lovers so no wonder our pets are getting overweight.  They look at you with their big soulful eyes that just beg you for another treat.

Well, a cake baker in Manchester has developed a new treat for your dog that is not only suitable for us humans to eat but it’s also low in fat and vegan.

35% of dogs in Britain are overweight so Laura Draper, a cake-maker with a shop in Didsbury, Manchester, has created a healthy cupcake just for our canine pals that she hopes will help to starve canine obesity.

The pupcakes are made out of gluten-free flour, low-fat peanut butter, bananas and low-fat cream cheese frosting and have been flying off the shelves of The Airyfairy Cake Boutique.

Miss Draper said,  ”I had dozens of dogs passing the shop on a daily basis with their masters and mistresses and every time their tails would wag and their noses would go in to overdrive in the direction of my kitchen.

One day I just got chatting about it to a friend and he said it’s a shame the dogs couldn’t enjoy the cake and I went away and did some research.  I thought straight away people love to buy their pets treats and it seemed like a gap in the market.

Sydney, my friend’s dog, got to be the test dog, and he just wolfed them down. And our next door neighbour’s dog loved them too.”

Visit  www.airyfairycupcakes.co.uk for more details.

The slimming chain Weight Watchers is making its move onto the UK high street.

For decades, devotees have been meeting in public places such as community centres and town halls each week to chart their weight loss and gather support from other devotees using the company’s points system.

Their new high street centres will pull in more dieters who need to fit their regime into their busy day. Dieting services as well as meals will be available to cater to their needs. Group sessions and one on one sessions will also be available.

The first centre has just opened in Reading. Spokesman Chris Stirk said, “The centre will offer a more personalised and flexible service for busy people like working mums and office workers who can pop in when they have time. With many of us working longer hours and demanding a more personalised, flexible service, we continue to adapt and enhance our products and services to meet the needs of the community.”

Stand alone stores for Weight Watchers already exist in the US, Australia and China with plans in the UK set to roll out sites in London, Birmingham and Leeds.

She’s the only girl on the panel and has seen her fame soar even more for her down to earth attitude and her great personality but The Voice star Jessie J is being closely monitored over fears for her health.

The pop star suffered a stroke when she was 18 and overworking herself; being in a band and holding down four jobs.

Due to the amount of pressure she is under on the show and the sheer amount of work it entails, she is being closely monitored to make sure her health doesn’t suffer.

A source said, “She works incredibly hard not only on The Voice but also promoting her album around the world. Add that to the gruelling touring, personal appearances and recording and it would be a lot for anyone to take.”

Jessie said of her stroke last year, “I had a stroke when I was 18. I was in a girl band at the time and had, like, 4 jobs. I was really tired and my body shut down.”

Jessie is currently in the US but returns to UK shores at the end of the month with the live shows of The Voice.

Amanda Holden has given birth to her second daughter.

A spokesperson for her and her husband, Chris Hughes, announced that the pair had become parents to Hollie Rose Hughes on Monday however the announcement was delayed due to Holden being in ‘critical condition’ for three days as she battled for life.  Holden was due to take part in the Britain’s Got Talent auditions before being admitted to hospital on Monday where she underwent emergency blood transfusions while her newborn daughter, born by Caesarean section, was put on a respirator in a special care unit.

Baby Hollie weighed in at 6lb 1oz and is now said to be ‘healthy’.

A friend said, “Amanda lost several pints of blood and had to have a number of transfusions. Hollie could not breathe. For a while both were fighting for life. Thankfully Hollie is now out of the woods and Amanda is recovering too.”

Holden is expected to make a full recovery while the exact details of what caused her huge loss of blood have not been made public.

Holden has had a history of difficult pregnancies so we are delighted to hear the good news.

How many times have we heard the phrase, “You are what you eat”?

Not J D Wetherspoons apparently who are serving up a blood pressure soaring, heart attack on a plate meal amounting to a calorific 2000 calories.

The chain serves up a mixed grill which has won the accolade of the unhealthiest dish in the country.  Consisting of gammon, rump and pork steaks, lamb chops, chips, a fried egg, six beer-battered onion rings and two pork sausages, Wetherspoons serves around 12,000 of these meals a week at a price of £10.49.

With a total of almost 2000 calories, it would provide nearly all of a woman’s recommended maximum intake on a  single plate.  It also contains 42g of saturated fat (more than double the maximum recommended for an adult in a day) and an over the limit amount of salt at 6.2g.

The findings are taken from book Eat This, Not That!, which is published by Hearst-Rodale and acts to name and shame unhealthy restaurants and cafes in the UK.

They also look at Pret A Manger, Costa, Café Rouge, Strada and Prezzo, and also point out the healthier alternatives on their menus.

Eat This, Not That! can be purchased online now for £9.99 at www.hearstsubs.co.uk/mh/bk79