.jpg)
Healthy Selections
Cavendish Farms is committed to creating awareness of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle through eating a balanced diet and embracing a more active lifestyle. We want to provide you with the tools necessary to succeed in a constantly changing industry. Please take the time to check out the following articles and links for information that will benefit your business. We will be updating this information on a regular basis, so please be sure to come back and check for any updates.
Summary:
Articles
Non-hydrogenated products on the horizon!!
Dieppe, NB, November 25, 2004 -- Expanding the Company's efforts earlier this year to introduce healthier French fries to the retail market, Cavendish Farms has announced today that all of its branded potato products for both the retail and food service products industry will be processed with non-hydrogenated oil. This change will be implemented throughout the company's portfolio of products during the next 12 months.
As a result, food service operators will now have the choice to offer their customers French fries and potato products produced in non-hydrogenated oil. Using non-hydrogenated oil will lower the intake of both saturated and trans-fats. According to Health Canada reports, trans fatty acids can raise LDL cholesterol levels, the bad cholesterol, while lowering the HDL levels, or the good cholesterol in your body. Using non-hydrogenated oils has been identified by Canada Health as a good way to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
"Consumers are asking manufacturers to eliminate saturated and trans-fats in the food they eat. Cavendish Farms is responding by making this switch," said Steven Buckler, Vice President Marketing, Cavendish Farms. "It reflects our company's philosophy of listening and responding to the concerns of consumers while ensuring we maintain the high level of quality and taste Cavendish customers expect."
All Cavendish Farms regular and Oven Crisp fries offered for retail sale in the Canadian market were switched to non-hydrogenated oil earlier in the year. "The consumer response to this initial change was very positive," said Buckler. "Now in keeping with that philosophy and building on that success, we are expanding that effort to include all Cavendish Farms branded products on both sides of the border."
Over the past year, the backlash against trans-fat has been significant. Canada was the first country to adopt regulations calling for nutrition labels to list the trans-fat content in foods directly under the line for saturated fat, giving consumers greater insight and information to make more confident choices. Health Canada recommends that Canadians enjoy a variety of foods each day and balance their intake with regular physical activity to promote good health.
"Our switch to non-hydrogenated oil in the preparation of our retail French fries offered consumers the opportunity to make healthier choices with their favorite foods," said Buckler. "We are now giving our restaurant partners the opportunity to offer their customers that same choice."
Cavendish Farms is a quality producer of frozen potato products for both retail and restaurant markets, throughout Canada, the United States, Asia, Caribbean, and South America. Cavendish Farms has two state-of-the-art processing plants in Prince Edward Island, and one in Jamestown, North Dakota. The company's head office is in Dieppe, New Brunswick, Canada and with sales offices in Montreal, Toronto and Boston. Cavendish Farms is part of the Irving group of companies, a family business in operation for more than 120 years.
Managing Oil (Canola)
With a focus on healthier food consumption sweeping North America, it is especially important to keep up with the proper preparation methods for fried foods. The following article discusses several key issues concerning the preparation and usage of the oil (canola) in order to optimize the cooking process. Please check out this link from canola info.org for more information: http://www.canolainfo.org/pdf/07deepfryfact.pdf
Trans Fat
Certain fatty acids such as trans fat are not considered "healthy" if consumed in large amounts. Cavendish Farms is pursuing a changeover from using hydrogenated oil to non-hydrogenated oil in preparation of all of its products, in order to meet the growing consumer concern. If you are interested in learning more about trans fatty acids and the dangers they represent, please go to: http://www.fcpc.ca/issues/transfat/index.html
