Post by Punjab2000 on Dec 19, 2009 18:18:22 GMT
eating away into my Doner - i thought to myself what is in my doner and so decided to a a little googling see below.
Yak !
News Release
29/01/09 What's In Your Doner?
Date: 29th January 2009
A national study has revealed shocking figures about the content of doner kebabs.
Trading Standards Officers from 76 councils throughout the UK, including officers from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service, sampled 494 doner kebabs to check the meat content, labelling and nutritional value.
The study found a major issue with misleading food labelling, 40 per cent of sampled kebabs that provided labelling information did not have an exact declaration for the meat species present. Tests also showed that in 15 per cent of cases beef was found in the kebab, but not declared on the label. In fact, 35 per cent of the labels listed different meat species than that actually contained in the kebab. Alarmingly, six kebabs tested positive for pork when it had not been declared as an ingredient, of which two were claimed as Halal.
The study examined the nutritional value of a doner kebab in pita bread, even without sauces or other ingredients, finding:
the average kebab contains 98 per cent of daily salt.
the average kebab contained nearly 1000 calories - half a women's total daily food intake
the average kebab contains 148 per cent of daily saturated fat
The survey also showed that a doner kebab could be far worse for you than the average statistics suggest, with the worst kebabs containing:
1990 calories before salad and sauces - over 95 per cent of a women's daily calorie intake
346 per cent of a women's saturated fat intake
277 per cent of an adult's daily salt intake.
If the doner kebab was classified using the traffic light system, which is used in supermarkets to classify pre-packaged food:
97 per cent would be red for fat
98 per cent would be red for saturated fat
96 per cent would be red for salt.
It makes a difference where in the UK you buy your kebab, the South West of England supplied five of the worst ten kebabs collected in the study.
In Gloucestershire 30 per cent of the samples had misleading labelling and we have advised those businesses involved.
Trading Standards are organising a workshop for business representatives to develop guidance aimed at improving the product labelling used by kebab manufacturers.
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald OBE, chairman of LACORS (Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services), said, "We would never consider kebabs part of a calorie controlled diet, but the level of saturated fat and salt in some is a serious cause for concern.
While some people may think they are making sensible choices by ordering a small kebab, this study showed little difference between small and large kebab weight. With obesity rates rising so rapidly in the UK, portion size is as important as what is being consumed. Reducing portion size is an easy and cost effective way for small businesses to help people eat sensibly.'
'The study shows that even if there's a food label it's not necessarily accurate. Even kebabs labelled as Halal had problems with some found to contain pork. It is totally unacceptable that people that with certain faiths are unknowingly eating meats that are against their beliefs. Labelling is a safeguard for people to help them make informed choices so need to be accurate.'
'This study has turned the spotlight on doner kebabs and we hope that manufacturers rise to the challenge and work with Trading Standards to provide a healthier product that contains only what it says on the label.'
Eddie Coventry, Head of Gloucestershire Trading Standards, said: 'Consumers have a right not to be misled about the content of their food. As far as the fat and salt results go, we have providing information to all those included in the survey and offering guidance on how to go about reducing the amount of fat and salt found in the food.'
For more information please contact:
Dave Honey, Group Manager, 01452 426218
John Paddock Food Section Manager, 01452 426091
Martin Bruton, Consumer Advice Manager, 01452 426215
see link www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/glos/newsitem.cgi?file=prss0452.txt
Yak !
News Release
29/01/09 What's In Your Doner?
Date: 29th January 2009
A national study has revealed shocking figures about the content of doner kebabs.
Trading Standards Officers from 76 councils throughout the UK, including officers from Gloucestershire County Council Trading Standards Service, sampled 494 doner kebabs to check the meat content, labelling and nutritional value.
The study found a major issue with misleading food labelling, 40 per cent of sampled kebabs that provided labelling information did not have an exact declaration for the meat species present. Tests also showed that in 15 per cent of cases beef was found in the kebab, but not declared on the label. In fact, 35 per cent of the labels listed different meat species than that actually contained in the kebab. Alarmingly, six kebabs tested positive for pork when it had not been declared as an ingredient, of which two were claimed as Halal.
The study examined the nutritional value of a doner kebab in pita bread, even without sauces or other ingredients, finding:
the average kebab contains 98 per cent of daily salt.
the average kebab contained nearly 1000 calories - half a women's total daily food intake
the average kebab contains 148 per cent of daily saturated fat
The survey also showed that a doner kebab could be far worse for you than the average statistics suggest, with the worst kebabs containing:
1990 calories before salad and sauces - over 95 per cent of a women's daily calorie intake
346 per cent of a women's saturated fat intake
277 per cent of an adult's daily salt intake.
If the doner kebab was classified using the traffic light system, which is used in supermarkets to classify pre-packaged food:
97 per cent would be red for fat
98 per cent would be red for saturated fat
96 per cent would be red for salt.
It makes a difference where in the UK you buy your kebab, the South West of England supplied five of the worst ten kebabs collected in the study.
In Gloucestershire 30 per cent of the samples had misleading labelling and we have advised those businesses involved.
Trading Standards are organising a workshop for business representatives to develop guidance aimed at improving the product labelling used by kebab manufacturers.
Cllr Geoffrey Theobald OBE, chairman of LACORS (Local Authority Coordinators of Regulatory Services), said, "We would never consider kebabs part of a calorie controlled diet, but the level of saturated fat and salt in some is a serious cause for concern.
While some people may think they are making sensible choices by ordering a small kebab, this study showed little difference between small and large kebab weight. With obesity rates rising so rapidly in the UK, portion size is as important as what is being consumed. Reducing portion size is an easy and cost effective way for small businesses to help people eat sensibly.'
'The study shows that even if there's a food label it's not necessarily accurate. Even kebabs labelled as Halal had problems with some found to contain pork. It is totally unacceptable that people that with certain faiths are unknowingly eating meats that are against their beliefs. Labelling is a safeguard for people to help them make informed choices so need to be accurate.'
'This study has turned the spotlight on doner kebabs and we hope that manufacturers rise to the challenge and work with Trading Standards to provide a healthier product that contains only what it says on the label.'
Eddie Coventry, Head of Gloucestershire Trading Standards, said: 'Consumers have a right not to be misled about the content of their food. As far as the fat and salt results go, we have providing information to all those included in the survey and offering guidance on how to go about reducing the amount of fat and salt found in the food.'
For more information please contact:
Dave Honey, Group Manager, 01452 426218
John Paddock Food Section Manager, 01452 426091
Martin Bruton, Consumer Advice Manager, 01452 426215
see link www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/glos/newsitem.cgi?file=prss0452.txt