Nairns’ oat products, Montmorency’s Cherryactive juice drink and Croda’s Incromega omega-3 ingredients are the first products to pass educational charity Food for the Brain’s new audit process.
Food for the Brain’s aim is to promote the link between learning, behaviour, mental health and nutrition, and the accreditation confirms that the charity is convinced that the products assist brain health.
In order to pass the audit, a product must meet a number of key criteria. It has to have a low glycaemic load and be low in sugar. Products also have to be high in essential fats, such as omega-3, 6 and phospholipids; high in vitamins and minerals; and free from harmful or unnecessary chemical additives or colourings.
Food for the Brain’s director Patrick Holford said: “Optimum nutrition plays a key role in brain function, including behaviour, academic performance and promoting mental health.
"We are proud to have awarded Nairns, CherryActive and Croda with Food for the Brain approval and hope that highlighting products that benefit the brain will help raise awareness of the strong link that exists between nutrition and the mind.
"Our vision is to create a future where optimum nutrition as a way to promote mental health is understood by all and implemented by many.”
Food for the Brain has also been working with the Russell Partnership to implement an accredited audit and training programme for catering. “The training programme brings menus and food provision up to scratch so that it can carry the Food for the Brain accreditation mark,” claimed the charity.
Companies wishing to take part in the Food for the Brain audit and approval process can get further information from the charity’s website.