Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland has partnered with Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to introduce a new funding opportunity to assist Scottish bakery businesses in creating healthier products. The Healthier Bakery Fund is now available to all businesses that produce sweet or savoury bakery goods in Scotland, including ingredient manufacturers, bakery shops, butchers, cafes and restaurants, and retailers.
The fund will prioritize supporting projects which promote the reduction of the sugar, fat, calorie, or salt content in products that are highly popular among consumers. Similarly, the fund will also promote projects that enhance the fibre, vegetable, whole-grain, or fruit content in recipes. Even a minor alteration, such as swapping shortening for lower-fat alternatives or incorporating wholemeal flour, can create a significant change in the final product.
Food and drink manufacturers aspire to provide a broader range of healthier products, even though the cost of changes can be challenging. As such, the Healthier Bakery Fund was launched, allowing businesses to utilize the £5,000 funding to subsidize trials for recipe changes or nutritional testing.
Expressing her delight, Joanne Burns, FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Manager, expressed her admiration of the Healthier Bakery Fund, acknowledging the £50,000 funding provided by Food Standards Scotland. “This funding will support food businesses across Scotland to make changes to their recipes that will allow shoppers to enjoy healthier bakery products.”
Laura Wilson, the Head of Public Health Nutrition at FSS, acknowledged the fund, stating that reformulation was a primary way food production firms can help enhance the foods people frequently consume. FSS’ recent research discovered that sweet bakery products from bakeries, coffee shops, and cafes exceeded 450 calories, with the highest products containing over 1600 calories. This trend is concerning, given that these products are among the leading food options when dining out or ordering takeout. Wilson further added that the products’ recommended daily calorie intake is 2000 for a female, and these sweet bakery products amount to a significant portion of the entire day’s calorie intake.
The deadline for the Healthier Bakery Fund is 30th June 2023. Ian McGhee, the President of Scottish Bakers, expressed his pleasure with the launch of the Healthier Bakery Fund and focused on the importance of continuing to improve the quality and quantity of the healthier products available to match the growing consumer demand.
However, for the achievement of long-term success, consumer education and awareness are vital. This imperative task has to work hand in hand with investments and innovation, promoting necessary shifts towards healthier eating habits. For more information, visit FDF Scotland’s website, where more details can be obtained regarding the Healthier Bakery Fund.