A healthy diet should consist of…

A healthy diet should consist of at least 30g of fibre, according to new guidelines, marking an increase on most people’s reckoning…

New guidelines released by Public Health England (PHE) state that a healthy diet shouldconsist of at least 30grams of fibre each day, made up of fruit, vegetables and starchy carbohydrates – rather than the current high-sugar, high-saturated-fat diets.

These updated guidelines follow Chancellor George Osborne’s controversial sugar tax announcement, aiming to curb the UK’s growing obesity rates.

In line with the government’s newly revamped 5-a-day logo, PHE state that the British public should be eating at least five portions of fruit and veg every day, and upping their fibre content to 30 grams – currently Brits will consume on average just 19 grams of fibre a day.

So what does 30 grams of fibre a day look like?

According to PHE, 30 grams of fibre is the equivalent of “five portions of fruit and vegetables, two wholewheat cereal biscuits, two thick slices of wholemal bread and one large baked potato with the skin on.”

Will this impact on the Foodservice industry?

PHE think so.

Because it’s easier, and free, to place the new 5-a-day logo on food packaging, those consumers who wish to comply with the advised standards, will more likely select 5-a-dayproducts over those without. This will result in an increase in sales for manufacturers who take advantage of these new guidelines.