FOOD FOCUS 29
FSAI publishes first recommendations for one to five year-olds The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published a report outlining food-based dietary guideline recommendations for one to five year-old children living in Ireland. The latest Irish research on the dietary habits of this age group was used by the FSAI’s Scientific Committee to develop the guidelines, which reflect international best practice on young child feeding in an Irish context. The report states milk is a key food, with a daily intake of 550ml of cow’s milk, or equivalent amounts of yoghurt or cheese, recommended. The full recommendations are available at www.fsai.ie.
Love Irish Food announces 2020 Double Up Awards The new report advises parents against using some beverages such as almond ‘milk’, coconut ‘milk’ and rice ‘milk’, as milk substitutes for this age group
Aldi supports artisan cheeses with Irish Cheese Direct Aldi now stocks a range of Irish cheeses from suppliers in collaboration with Irish Cheese Direct (ICD). The ICD is a group of seven top Irish farmhouse cheesemakers who work together to directly supply the Irish retail sector with artisanal, local products. The new partnership involves three of the seven producers; Inagh Farmhouse Cheese (Co. Clare), Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers (Co. Tipperary), and The Little Milk Company (Co. Waterford).
Inagh Farmhouse Cheese, Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers and The Little Milk Company are now available in stores
Under-35s increase dairy consumption during lockdown Almost 40% of Irish consumers under 35 have increased their dairy consumption since the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown. That’s according to new consumer research of over 2,000 Irish adults released by the European Milk Forum, as part of its ‘Sustainable Dairy in Europe’ campaign. While 91% of Irish consumers still think we can prevent all or most of the catastrophic consequences of climate change, when it comes to making food purchasing decisions, price (46%), nutritional value (34%) and healthiness (31%) trump carbon footprint (10%) and sustainable packaging (19%) concerns.
39% of consumers under 35 have increased their dairy consumption during the pandemic
optimum campaign for Love Irish Food has their brand objectives. announced the launch The award is open of the 2020 Double Up to both Love Irish Awards in partnership with Food members and Core and Media Central. non-members. Chosen The initiative is offering brands will have the five Irish food producing opportunity to advertise companies a ‘double up’ their products to the of €200,000 in radio Irish consumer with airtime, meaning selected double the momentum companies will have their and double the airtime. radio advertising spend Love Irish Food doubled in 2021. invites all qualifying Winners will have their Irish-produced food bought radio spend and drink brands to of €40,000 in Q1 2021 enter, detailing in 1,500 doubled by €40,000 in words or less, why free airtime in Q2 2021, this campaign should across Media Central Kieran Rumley, executive director be awarded to their radio stations, to include of Love Irish Food, whose member brand. Entrants will Newstalk, Today FM, and brands support 12,000 jobs in the need to present a sound others. Media Central’s Irish food industry business and marketing stations achieve a weekly case, with the winners audience of over 2 million being the brands deemed to benefit most listeners. Love Irish Food, Core and Media from the award. Central will work with the winners to plan the “At a time when Covid-19 and Brexit have added so much uncertainty to the market, this Double Up award allows the winners the certainty of knowing that they have an increased advertising campaign for their brand in their plans for 2021,” said Kieran Rumley, executive director of Love Irish Food. To enter, brands must first submit details of their company and brand at www.loveirishfood.ie by 24 July 2020. Completed entry forms must be submitted by 28 August 2020.
Fish imports and exports continue to rise Under EU regulations, all imports of fish Fish imports into Ireland from outside the EU from third countries (countries outside the are continuing to rise, according to figures EU) must be accompanied by a catch released by the Sea-Fisheries Protection certificate which confirms that the fish Authority, the state body responsible for was caught and declared legally, including regulating the sea fisheries and the sea food where and when the fish was caught and by production sectors. which vessel. In 2019, over Last year, 4,000 tonnes of the SFPA fishery products provided catch were subject to certificates for SFPA import over 11,500 controls, up 26% tonnes of Irish on 2018. Fish and exports to third fishery products countries, an that are traded increase of into the European 8% on 2018. Union are subject Additionally, to specific regulatory it provided controls to Sea fisheries regulator issues latest certification figures health prevent illegal, certificates unreported and unregulated (IUU) fish and for almost 84,000 tonnes of exports to fishery products from entering the food third countries. These certificates confirm supply chain. Anti-IUU regulations were that the products were handled under introduced as part of EU measures to tackle satisfactory hygienic conditions in an the estimated €1.1 billion in IUU products that SFPA-approved establishment and are were imported into the EU annually. accurately described. n
