Scottish food and drink businesses are improving the dietary health of the nation

Scottish food and drink businesses have removed hundreds of millions of calories and tonnes of salt from the Scottish diet with the support of Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme.

On 16 June FDF Scotland celebrated the successes of their Scottish Government funded programme at a showcase event. Attendees heard how Scottish food and drink businesses have made everyday food healthier including meat products, bakery goods and smoked fish through to ice cream, crisps and chocolate.

Scotland’s top pie brand Bells Food Group has cut the salt content of their pie shells in half and Strathmore Foods is removing over 100 million calories from the Scottish diet by making a small change to their macaroni cheese recipe. Meanwhile Arran Dairies will soon launch a lower calorie ice cream and Macsween of Edinburgh is working with ingredient manufacturer Ulrick & Short to reduce the fat content of their traditional haggis recipe.

Speakers at the event shared advice and resources to empower even more food and drink businesses with the information they need to make their products and recipes healthier. This included Scottish based Cardowan Creameries and LoSalt who shared how the use of ingredients can support this.

Public Health Minister Maree Todd said:

“Since 2019, the Scottish Government has helped the Food and Drink Federation Scotland unlock the potential for Scotland’s food industry to make their produce healthier and better for consumers.

“I commend our local food companies for rising to the reformulation challenge. They have played a vital role in improving dietary health by removing hundreds of millions of calories from Scottish food and drink products.

“Together, we must continue to support the reformulation agenda and the commercial, reputational and public health benefits that this contributes to Scotland being a Good Food Nation.”

Food and Drink Federation Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Manager, Joanne Burns, said:

 “We are working with a range of food and drink businesses who have made small changes to their recipes that are making a big difference to the health of Scotland’s people.

“I encourage food and drink businesses to get in touch with FDF Scotland to find out how we can support you to make your products healthier and in turn improve dietary health in Scotland.”

Scotland’s National Chef Gary Maclean, said:

 “Scotland has a larder and food traditions that are the envy of Europe, but we have some work to do to improve our diets. 

“It is great to see positive action towards a healthier Scotland and to see the incredible talent we have working towards this.”

More information

For more information please contact kirsty.tinsdale@fdfscotland.org.uk / 07508 303 736

 Notes for editors:

1. FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health showcase event took place on 16 June 2022 at Murrayfield stadium.
2. FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health programme, funded by the Scottish Government, is helping small and medium sized food companies to make their products healthier.
3. Since the launch of the Reformulation for Health Programme in 2019 we have helped to remove hundreds of millions of calories and tonnes of salt from the Scottish diet. Read more about the programme’s successes.