Food Quality Magazine October 2015 | Page 22

Food Quality Magazine ISSUE 04 | OCTOBER 2015 of scientists and agricultural professionals, helped develop a feed that is made from a mix of grains and is richer in Omega 3 fatty acids than traditional, corn-based feed. This feed results in healthier meat, as the pork contains at least twice the Omega 3, an essential nutrient, as conventional pork meat. Furthermore, growing a more diverse set of crops for the feed, rather than relying only on corn, promotes biodiversity in the farming region. To encourage farmers to adopt the new, more expensive feed, Delhaize paid for the difference in cost from regular feed. They coordinated with 47 farmers, 10 feed suppliers and 5 slaughterhouses. Pork generated by this project is sold under the Delhaize brand, and is currently available in the majority of Delhaize Belgium and Luxembourg stores. And they plan to offer it in 100% of our stores by the end of 2015”. Second big project was made in Delhaize Serbia where “Delhaize Empowered Local Farmers to Compete on the European Market through selecting programs for food safety standards and food traceability, education campaign for local farmers and financing of 2 local farmers for certification of Global GAP (picture 6). Delhaize Serbia also plans to use the “Support to Sustain” slogan for additional initiatives, including new programs for sustainable breads and other locally produced products that will be available year round”. Projects for future development of safe food 22 Picture 6 – Delhaize Sustainability progress report 2014 http://www.delhaizegroup.com/en/Sustainability/SustainabilityReports.aspx sidered as healthy product and food manufacturer or retailer is going to perform activities like labeling program or ingredients changing to make it healthier or some other activities that will help customer to make healthier choices. Healthy food is healthy product by itself or it is produced from raw materials that in combination make that product healthy. There are numerous programs that food manufacture or retailer can use, like developing of new products or development of raw materials/suppliers that will at the end have part in producing the healthy product. It is clear that global food retailers are following the demands of customer, but also food industry trends and with their projects we can see the healthy products more representatives on shelves, but also healthier choices offered. Labeling programs Here important thing that needs to be point out is difference between healthier products or choices and healthy products. Retailers use in store labeling to mark more nutritive products on shelves and make it more visible for customers. Healthier products means that we have some product that is not con- Labeling programs can make grate difference in the price of products In most countries it has become a legal obligation to mark Reference Intake or Guideline Daily Amount. Also there are demands for “traffic lite coding” where more green colors means more nutrient product. on the market because other interesting points like preparation of product, combinations with other food, health impacts, and nutritional value that can be added. Ingredients changing Ingredients changing can be developed in two big groups: reducing of the existing amount of ingredients (salt, sugar, preservatives, additive…); replacement of existing ingredients for healthier (natural flavors, natural colors, natural fruit sweeteners, specialty ingredients meeting consumer requirements…). Development of new products Developm