New Packaging for Sainsbury's Juice and Concerns over MacDonalds in the London Olympic Park

With concerns about increasing obesity in our society, have the organisers of the london Olympics made the right decision to open the world's largest MacDonald's restaurant in the 2012 Olympic Park? Although the government have recommended 5 portions of fruit and veg a day, decisions like this have left many asking whether the financial sponsorship of multinationals is more important than the nation's health. Retailers have been keen to promote the healthy five a day diet, and Sainsbury's have launched new packaging for 1 litre fruit juice cartons. Each carton features transparent windows to enable consumers to monitor the amount of juice they drink.

Sainsbury's Launches New Juice Packaging to Improve Portion Control

Sainsbury's has launched new 1 litre juice packaging with four see-through windows designed to allow simple portion control and ensure consumers know how to pour to achieve their five-a-day.

Using the windows on the side of the carton as a guide, customers can measure a glass of fruit juice that counts as part of a healthy diet.

The new packaging design is part of the 'by Sainsbury's' re-launch, announced in May.

The revamp, which includes over 6,500 products, began with frozen foods just before Christmas 2010 and will be completed by January 2013.

Of the 6,500 products 65% will be either new or improved.

All of the packaging for the new 'by Sainsbury's' range has been designed to meet with Sainsbury's wider commitment to reduce its own brand packaging weight relative to sales by 33% by 2015 against a 2009 baseline.

With obesity on the rise, many blame gaining weight on a lack of education on the 'right' and 'wrong' foods.

Fruit is recommend to be consumed up to five times a day but fruit juice, high in sugars, can often be over consumed, leading to too much sugar.

The new packaging hopes to provide consumers with a clear and easy way to achieve a healthy portion without worrying about over -or in some cases under - consuming vitamin packed products.

Louise Wilkinson, Sainsbury's Juice Buyer said:

"We launched this new packaging to make it easier for customers to measure one of their five-a-day and lead a healthier lifestyle.

"The windows also showcase our fantastic juice and its freshness."

The range of fruit juices is available in store or online for £1.58 each or on a three for £4 offer.

Juices in the range include:

· Apple and Boysenberry juice

· Apple and cherry juice

· Apple and mango juice

· Apple and pear

· Apple juice

· Apple, pineapple and lemongrass juice

· Costa Rican Pineapple juice

· Multivitamin and multifruit juice

· Orange juice, smooth

· Orange juice, with juicy bits

· Orange, Mango and passion fruit

· Red Grape juice

· Ruby breakfast juice

· Tomato juice

· Tropical juice

· Valencia Orange Juice

 

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Olympic Site Plans to Host World's Biggest McDonald's

Recently announced plans to open the world's largest McDonald's outlet in the 2012 Olympic Park have been criticised for sending the wrong message to children.

The planned 1500-seat venue stretches over two floors and is one of four McDonald's restaurants opening on the East London site in time for the games, including one in the athletes' village in Stratford

But many have spoken out against these plans to incorporate such a strong fast food presence at a high profile sporting event.

Hackney and Shadow Minister for Public Health MP Diane Abbott has expressed her opposition to the Hackney Citizen, claiming the plan could help contribute to the child obesity epidemic.

She said: "Plonking the world's biggest McDonald's in the middle of the Olympics site, with the eyes of the entire world on Britain, gives out completely the wrong message.

"I am calling on the Government to review its relationship with the manufacturers and retailers that are damaging our children's health.

"It is absurd that the government is positioning McDonald's, Coca Cola and Cadbury's at the forefront of the London Olympics.

"The government is creating a ticking time bomb with their inaction on public health."

Former Olympic boxer Amir Khan has also criticised the decision. He said:

"It is clearly sending the wrong signal to kids and young people.

"If we want them to be healthy and educate them to eat healthily, we need to think about approaching them in a different way, especially around sport."

Olympic organisers however, have so far rejected the claims.

Defending the decision to allow McDonald's to go ahead with on-site plans, organisers are insisting there will be a wide variety of different food options in a ring of food outlets on site.

McDonald's has been an Olympic sponsor for 35 years and will be the only branded restaurant on site.

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