Super foods for a healthier lifestyle

Bread which can help control diabetes, a tomato extract that may reduce heart disease and super berries containing high doses of vitamins are some of the developments being produced by Scottish Government supported scientists.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Richard Lochhead and Public Health Minister, Shona Robison met some of the scientists involved in this work to hear how Scottish science is working across the food chain to help to improve our health and boost the food and drink industry.

Research projects discussed included the use of ultrasound scanning to improve meat quality, improving the management of Scotland's soils to boost yields, and reducing the risks of food-borne infections such as E coli O157.

Mr Lochhead said: "Scottish science is making a significant input to our developing national food and drink policy, which aims to boost the industry and support healthier and more environmentally sustainable choices.

"Our cross-cutting food and drink policy aims to join up government working on every part of the food chain from farm gate to plate. The fascinating work outlined today highlights the valuable contribution made by our world-class scientific researchers."

Scientists from the University of Aberdeen's Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, Macaulay Institute, Moredun Research Institute, Scottish Agricultural College and the Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) explained how they are working across the whole supply chain to improve methods of production, processing and supply and help develop healthy food and drink choices to improve the Scots diet.

Much of this research is supported by Scottish Government funding of approximately £60 million per year, as part of the main research areas of the Government's five year scientific programme 2005 to 2010.

Words: Maria Bracken

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