'Strawberry' labels but little sign of strawberries

Published on Sunday 24 February 2008 21:05

THEIR labels may be covered in ripe, juicy strawberries – but many popular strawberry-flavoured foods and drinks contain little if any traces of the summer fruit, according to a report.

Research by the Food Commission, an independent UK watchdog campaigning for healthier, sustainable food, studied strawberry milkshakes, yoghurts, muesli bars, jellies and drinks, and discovered most relied on artificial flavourings to give products their fruity taste.

Nesquik strawberry milkshake mix was criticised by the campaign group for being strawberry-free and made almost entirely of sugar.

Yazoo Strawberry Flavour Milkshake was criticised by the Food Commission, along with Moo Strawberry Flavour Milk and Friji Strawberry Milkshake, for using sugar and flavourings but no fruit at all.

Yoplait Yop strawberry yoghurt also had zero strawberry content and used the colouring E124, while Hartley's Strawberry jelly used unknown flavourings instead of berries.

Jordans Frusli All Fruit strawberry bars contained only 0.5 per cent strawberry juice concentrate, and Ian Tokelove, of the Food Commission, said he hoped the report would highlight the widespread use of flavourings in food. He said about 2,700 flavourings were currently used although none needs to be declared as ingredients, leaving consumers unaware of what they are eating.

"Flavourings allow companies to cut costs at the public's expense," he said. "With thousands of cheap flavourings to choose from, many food manufacturers can now flavour their products using these specialist additives instead of real ingredients."

Mr Tokelove said covering the packaging of these products with pictures of strawberries was "misleading and deceptive".

"Unfortunately it is also legal and the practice is widespread," he added.

Richard Watts, campaign director of Sustain, an independent body advocating better food and agricultural practices, said: "It's all too easy to pick up the package with fruit on the label and stick it in the basket. It needs to be much clearer that the picture does not reflect the ingredients."