Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

Scientists have replaced the saturated fat, salt and sugar components in convenience foods as consumption of natural healthy food ingredients continues to increase, resulting in healthier products. Under the food institutional research programme, considerable work has been undertaken at Teagasc's National Food Centre and University College Cork in developing those types of foods as referred to by Deputy Upton. Within the umbrella of the Irish Universities Nutritional Alliance, a major survey was conducted on adult eating patterns. This work is important in ensuring further research can be carried out to develop the products to which the Deputy referred. The research of food products suitable for coeliacs was a result of the ongoing work of University College Cork and Teagasc's National Food Centre.

The Department made detailed submissions to the task force, whose work is well under way. The different agencies working for the Department of Agriculture and Food, such as Bord Bia, are involved in advanced research, particularly in changes to food consumption trends. Over several years, the food dude programme was particularly successful. Although it was a British initiative, it was piloted in Ireland. We have applied to the EU for permission to establish another food dude programme. The results of the first programme were encouraging. One year after it, children's eating habits were surveyed. Those who had been on the programme had a significantly higher intake of fruit and vegetables than those who did not partake. There are merits in continuing the food dude programme. Bord Bia, working with the Department, is anxious to advance this as quickly as possible.

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