Weight Loss Campaign Useful for Delis?

Dr Norton said that “industry has a responsibility to help consumers make better choices by offering us great products with clear health benefits.” It cannot sit back, she said, “and watch the obesity crisis worsen.”  Misleading labelling, larger portion sizing and “pushing products which falsely claim health benefits are ploys deliberately designed to hoodwink consumers.” 

To promote her campaign, Dr Norton has launched the ‘Eat Better, Live Better, Work Better’ Vavista Awards, under which products which are accurately labelled, contain good ingredients are locally sourced and have health benefits can be entered in awards whose main purpose is to promote the nation’s health.

This, of course, can be seen as useful news for independent food retailers whose stock will already reflect many of these values. By drawing attention to the fact that many of these qualities are already to be found in much deli and farm shop produce, owners can give customers one more reason to shop at their establishments.

Mark Kacary of the Norfolk Deli concedes that that “while we wouldn’t claim to be a health shop, we can at least point to where our food comes from and know that our products use the best ingredients.” The Awards make “total sense” he says, and may encourage people to shop independently, where they have a better chance of “eating less, but eating better.”