11.10.10
Healthy Start scheme to include frozen vegetables
The Department of Health has said that eligible families will now be able to use their Healthy Start vouchers to buy frozen vegetables as well as fresh ones.
Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley said: “We’re looking at including frozen fruit and vegetables in the Healthy Start scheme.
“Healthy Start helps more than half a million pregnant women and low-income families by giving them vouchers that can be used to buy milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, and also coupons which can be exchanged for free vitamins for women and children.
“Plain frozen fruit and vegetables count towards your 5-A-DAY and can contain as many - if not more – vitamins than poorly stored fresh produce. Frozen goods are often cheaper than fresh and they can last longer, so there’s less food waste too. This would mean that families on Healthy Start have access to a much greater range of produce all year round.
“Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can significantly reduce deaths from stroke, some cancers and coronary heart disease, so it’s important that people have enough.”
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