I have finally got around to publishing my thoughts on this :

The Little Red Tick encompassed within a circle has been synonymous with “healthy” “good for you” foods for years – 25 of them this year actually. That’s a long time for something to be around .

Why then now is it suddenly being thrust into the spotlight (every day in the media recently) to be abolished and the Heart Foundation deemed to be this evil money hungry corporation robots that cares nothing for you and your health ?

Basically it was started by one person recently who started a petition to have the tick removed from all products because of one of the major things that the Heart Foundation endorses with the tick – MARGARINE.
My opinion of Margarine is that it is indeed evil ! So I fully understand why they would think that.
More recently a number of Celebrities and Health professionals have also taken to the fight to have the tick flicked

There are numerous other products that have also got the famous red tick on as well like a few I have listed below and other products like McDonalds – something I just will never understand ! There is nothing healthy about McDonalds ! Something like a salad that is sold – yes ok that might be healthy ( might taste revolting) but I highly doubt the majority of people that go to McDonalds are going to call in and just purchase a salad ! Its going to be a case of “Would you like Fries and a coke with that”  and all the other unhealthy food that goes with it !

Here are a few other products with the tick  – Keep in mind that the first ingredients are the bulk of (food) ingredient….
I have a real issue with these products (and there are many more) that have received the tick of approval from The Heart Foundation , when they contain so many numbers 😦  – plus the oils used – you can read about my opinion on the various oils in this blog post HERE

Praise Mayonnaise – Sunflower Oil (Antioxidant [320]), Water, Cane Sugar, Whole Egg, White Vinegar, Malt Vinegar (Barley & Wheat), Salt, Vegetable Gums (405, 415), Food Acid (Citric), Natural Colour (Carrot Extract), Flavour.

Continental Pasta Packet Sauces – Pasta (77%) [Wheat Flour, Thickener (405),Colour (Carotene)], Whey, Milk, SkimMilk, Maltodextrin (from Wheat), Natural Flavours (contain Wheat, Milk derivatives), Maize Starch, Chives, Cheese(1%), Mineral Salts(451, 452, 508, 339), Salt, Yeast Extract, Yeast, Sugar, Mustard, Food Acids (Lactic, Sodium Citrate), Colour (Carotene), Flavour Enhancer (627), Spice Extract.

Dairy Farmers Oats Express -LOW FAT MILK, MILK SOLIDS, SUGAR, OAT FIBRE (min. 1.25%), TAPIOCA MALTODEXTRIN, BANANA EXTRACT, NATURAL FLAVOURS, VEGETABLE GUMS (460, 466, 407).

Lean Cuisine Spaghetti Bolognese – Cooked pasta (42%) (water, wheat, semolina, canola oil), reconstituted tomato (23%) (water, tomato paste), beef (10%), tomatoes (8%), red wine (5%), tomato paste (5%) (tomatoes), onions (2%), brown sugar, thickener (1422), onion flakes, soy sauce (contains wheat), salt, yeast extracts, natural flavours (contains wheat, barley), garlic, emulsifier (471), herbs, food acid (citric), spices, natural colour (120),whey powder.
Contains gluten containing cereals, soy and milk.
Made on equipment that processes products containing egg, fish, crustacea, peanut and sesame.

Lean Cuisine Tortellini with Beef and Parmesan in a Creamy Sundried tomato sauce – Cooked tortellini (33%) [water, durum wheat semolina, wheat flour, beef (2.5%), breadcrumbs (wheat flour, sugar, salt, yeast, canola oil), tomato paste, parmesan cheese (1%), egg, canola oil, salt, natural flavour (contains wheat, milk), black pepper)], tomatoes (22%) [tomatoes, food acid (citric)], reconstituted tomato (14%) [water, tomato paste, food acid (citric)], zucchini (7%), red capsicum (5%), roasted onion (4%), ligh sour cream, water, cream, thickener (1422), wheat flour, parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes (1%), brown sugar, herbs (parsley, basil, oregano), skim milk powder, onion powder, yeast extract, salt, garlic, natural colours (120, annatto extracts), wheat), black pepper.
Contains wheat, milk and egg.
Made on the same equipment that produces products containing soy, fish, crustacean, peanut & sesame.
+Based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (1998) one serve of vegetables = 75g or ½ cup cooked vegetables.

McCain Healthy Choice Spaghetti Bolognese – Bolognese Sauce(62%), Water, Beef(10%), Tomatoes, Tomato Paste, Capsicum, Carrots, Onions, Zucchini, Red Wine(Milk, Egg), Flavours(Salt, Sugar, Spice, Herbs, Natural Flavours(Wheat), Milk Solids, Natural Colour(Caramel)), Thickener(1422), Garlic, Cooked Spaghetti(37%), Water, Wheat Flour, Thickener(405), Natural Colour(Carotene), Traces of Egg, Vegetable Oil, Topping(1%), Parmesan Cheese.

Meadow Lea Original – Vegetable Oils 65% (containing 52% Canola & Sunflower oil), water, salt, flavour, milk solids, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, 471),preservative (202), food acid (lactic), natural colour (beta-carotene),vitamins A & D. Contains soy and milk as indicated in bold type.

Meadow Lea Light – Water, Vegetable Oils 49% (containing 39% Canola & Sunflower oil), salt, emulsifiers (soy lecithin, 471), milk solids, preservative (202), food acid (lactic), flavour, natural colour (beta-carotene), vitamins A & D. Contains soy and milk as indicated in bold type.

Ok so now I have given a few products in detail with their ingredients and my dismay that they have the Heart Foundations approval let me tell you why I do not think that the Heart Foundations Tick should be completely flicked.

The Heart Foundation IS A wonderful organization they do far more than just their famous Red Tick – the research area and the support they give to those people who have had heart attacks who are in the public system.  Just like the Cancer Council, and various other Cancer Research institutes , Just like the Heart foundation they give recommendations on products and “diet and health” and endorse products with “pink” As do various other institutes that endorse various things that are supposed to be better for you, better for avoiding certain conditions and diseases…. But to be frank many of these institutions need to be looked at and overhauled as well. Various products that are endorsed to be put on or in your body that have chemicals in them.

Its not just the Heart Foundation. Everything needs a good look at and a damn good overhaul. So much information is outdated . However there is also so much conflicting information out there with various professionals (and not some professionals) touting that their way is the right way- I wrote a post about that earlier which you can read HERE

As written in my  Foodie Thoughts Segment of this blog I know a little about the heart and The Heart Foundation. It annoys me slightly that various people including major media personalities  are going all out to annihilate the Heart Foundation and have the Tick completely removed rather than thinking this could be a great opportunity to have the entire Heart Foundation Tick programmed Overhauled and re written.

Sadly its always the same the world over, a person has a view on something and its all or nothing. Why can’t there be discussion ? Why can’t there be constructive debate ? Why does it have to be completely destroyed ?

Anyone who has read my blog properly , and my facebook page knows how dedicated I am to healthy eating , nutritious eating , and enjoyable eating. I believe that we need a balance.  People get so aggressive towards one another and others views. They don’t listen to other people. They have their view and thats it. It doesn’t need to be that way.

The tick could be a wonderful programme for those people who are not foodie people that spend their days researching food etc It should be a wonderful programme. Where people can choose something and know that it is the best alternative to whole and real food . It currently isn’t that way at all.

I truly hope that all the media and exposure about the iconic Red Tick will persuade The Heart Foundation to completely overhaul their Tick Programme.  I don’t think it needs to be removed completely, only whilst it remains as it is now and then be brought back with true healthy and nutritional balance.