World Heart Day creates retail opportunities for healthier snacks

This week marks the World Heart Federation’s World Heart Day (29th September), spotlighting awareness of cardiovascular disease and the steps people can take to make positive lifestyle changes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) -  the name for a group of conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels - affects more than seven million people in the UK, with figures from the NHS[1] showing it is responsible for one in four premature deaths. 

With the Government recently publishing its CVD Modern Service Framework[2] for England, setting out a 10-year vision to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25%, public policy is placing increasing emphasis on prevention, earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Eating fruit and vegetables, including fresh, tinned and dried fruit, can support cardiovascular health, with the British Heart Foundation[3] recommending eating at least five portions a day. Just a 30g portion of dried fruit, including prunes, counts towards one of the five. 

Against this backdrop, the California Prune Board is encouraging UK retailers to capitalise on growing demand for healthier snacking, with nutrient-dense California Prunes offering a simple and convenient snack and versatile ingredient that can easily be incorporated into daily diets. 

High in fibre, fat-free and saturated-fat-free, California Prunes are also a source of nutrients including vitamin K, vitamin B6, copper and manganese. They can be enjoyed as an alternative to processed snacks or used as a versatile ingredient in savoury and sweet dishes.

Nutritionist Dr Annamaria Acquaviva explains: “California Prunes contain no added sugars, providing only naturally occurring fructose and glucose. High in fibre and a source of a range of vitamins and minerals, their combination of convenience and nutritional value makes them an easy option for people looking to add more fruit and nutritional variety to their diet.

“Consumers can also cook with California Prunes, with the premium dried fruit adding texture, natural sweetness and depth of flavour to savoury dishes.”

Meanwhile, for retailers there is an opportunity to support consumers in achieving healthier diets. Esther Ritson-Elliott, Vice President, International Market Development for the California Prune Board, adds: “Prunes are versatile enough to be used as a partial replacement for fat or processed sugars in baked goods or to add natural sweetness in savoury cooking.

“As a shelf-stable product that can be stored in the cupboard, California Prunes also make healthier choices more accessible and easier to maintain.

“World Heart Day therefore presents a timely opportunity to position California Prunes across snacking, dried-fruit and baking fixtures.”

The nutritional and health effects of prune consumption have been investigated in more than 70 scientific studies and abstracts. This includes research published in the Journal of Medicinal Food[4] in 2021, which revealed that postmenopausal women who ate 50 to 100 grams of prunes daily over a six-month period reduced their levels of total cholesterol, oxidative stress, and inflammatory markers - risk factors for cardiovascular disease - when compared to a group that did not include prunes in their diet. 

Meanwhile, a 2023 research abstract presented at the American Society for Nutrition[5] conference reported that, in a small group of older men, long-term prune consumption improved HDL (good) cholesterol and the total cholesterol to HDL ratio, while decreasing oxidative stress and the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein.

To work with California Prunes and find out more about the promotional support on offer from the California Prune Board, please visit www.californiaprunes.net

[1] www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/cvd/

[2] assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a4cfda87abea59ac13fd308/cardiovascular-disease-modern-service-framework.pdf

[3] www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/5-a-day/eat-more-vegetables-and-fruit

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33978491/

[5] californiaprunes.net/new-studies-show-daily-prune-consumption-supports-cardiovascular-health-in-ageing-population/

Ends

Editors notes

The California Prune Board was established in 1980 to represent growers and handlers under the authority of the California Secretary of Food and Agriculture. California is the world’s largest producer of premium prunes with orchards across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Promoting a lifetime of wellness through the enjoyment of California Prunes, the organization leads the premium prune category with generations of craftsmanship supported by California’s leading food safety and sustainability standards. California Prunes. Prunes. For life.

www.californiaprunes.net