• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Co-Op Moves to Ditch Diabetic Food and Drink

Posted on: Monday, 12 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

The Co-operative Group (Co-op) has agreed to phase diabetic confectionery and treat foods out of its 380 supermarkets and pharmacies, following advice from the Diabetes UK charity, which says the items are costly and fatty and offer no nutritional benefit.

Chocolate, marmalade, jam and squash drinks targeted at people with diabetes are this week being withdrawn from all Co-op stores. The Manchester-based group said the products were not needed because diabetics should follow the same healthy eating advice as everyone else.

Diabetes UK advised the chain that sufferers should aim for a balanced diet rather than eating specialist foods such as chocolates, biscuits and drinks. Research found low-carb, sugar-free diabetic foods can lead to a high-fat diet and more long-term health problems.

The move has been praised by consumer pressure group Which?, which said other retailers should follow the Co-op's lead.

"Which? has long condemned those who make or sell overpriced foods which they claim are 'suitable for diabetics'...In 2002, the Food Standards Agency and Diabetes UK issued a statement saying people with diabetes did not need special foods," the organization said.

High street chain Boots withdrew its diabetic food range a few years ago on the advice of Diabetes UK, but reinstated some of the products following a large number of customer complaints.

According to the Productscan Online database of new consumer product launches, 264 new food and drink products were launched worldwide last year claiming to be suitable for diabetic consumers.

Source: Datamonitor

More News in this Category