Made With Nature

First children's biscuits to get Heart Foundation tick

A Christchurch mother frustrated at not being able to buy biscuits that were made with natural ingredients has launched the Wildlife Downunder range, the first children’s biscuits to receive the Heart Foundation’s tick of approval.

Michelle Blakely, founder of Wildlife Downunder, was inspired to make a healthy and nutritious biscuit for her young son Connor, because she could not find one on the market that he liked the taste of and was free from artificial additives, trans fats and MSG.

Michelle spent two years working alongside a food technician to come up with two recipes that, after a lot of testing and research, proved very popular with children. Michelle also enlisted the help of leading paediatrician and nutritionist Dr Joey Shulman, one of Canada’s authorities on nutrition and wellness and author of Winning the Food Fight.

“In consultation with Dr Shulman we carefully chose ingredients for both taste and nutritional value – our focus was on ensuring that there were no artificial ingredients, refined white sugar or dairy in the recipes and that our biscuits were certified organic. Our goal was to produce a readymade organic snack without it being highly processed,” said Michelle.

“We are really pleased our biscuits meet the high nutrition standards set by the Heart Foundation. The Tick plays an important role by helping New Zealanders make healthier food choices and it also supports the fight against obesity.”

To join the Tick Programme the biscuits were independently tested and had to meet strict nutrition criteria. These included reducing salt and kilojoules, and increasing positive nutrients like fibre

“All the ingredients we use in our biscuits are 100% natural. We substituted trans fats (which are now known to be more harmful to health than saturated fat) for good oils; bleached flour for organic flour; refined sugar for organic juice concentrates, honey and rice syrup; artificial flavours for natural ones, and added fibre from New Zealand flax seed containing Omega 3.”

Dr Shulman says, “It is no secret that obesity is now affecting our children in epidemic proportions. Ensuring children eat healthy and nutritious snacks is one way to help them maintain a balanced diet.”

The Wildlife Downunder biscuits are available in two flavours – chocky and wild vanilla and are available in most major retail outlets as well as organic shops. Each box contains eight packs of three individually wrapped biscuits and are ideal for lunchboxes.

Michelle Blakely says consumers in New Zealand and worldwide are increasingly conscious about what they eat and how it is produced. More people are turning to organic food as a reliable and safe way to feed themselves and their family.

For further information visit www.ecoedibles.co.nz
For further information:
Michelle Blakely – Director
Made With Nature Limited
p: 03-3840313
f: 03-3840314
m: 021-959970
Email us

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About Made with Nature Limited
Launched in 2006, Made With Nature is a Christchurch-based organic children’s food company producing the innovative Eco Edibles range of snack food.

Tick Programme
Running in New Zealand for ten years the Heart Foundation Tick Programme is the most successful food sign posting programme to date. By helping people to make healthier food choices quickly and easily and by encouraging manufacturers to reformulate and produce healthier products for the supermarket shelves, the Tick Programme is improving New Zealand’s food supply.

Organic Certification
The Wildlife Downunder range of biscuits gained AgriQuality New Zealand’s Organic Standard, which is based on international guidelines and is gaining recognition worldwide. AgriQuality have been accredited by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). IFOAM’s aim is to co-ordinate the organic movement around the world to ensure consistency of accredited products.

The economics of the Organic Industry
In 1991, the output of the organics industry was estimated to comprise only NZ$1.1 million, a small proportion of which was exported. In 1996, total organic production was NZ$33.5 million of which the domestic market was estimated to be worth NZ$10 million. Research estimates that the domestic market has now grown to over NZ$32.5 million and is still growing (Saunders and Ritchie 1997). Internationally the global organic food and drink market is estimated to reach US$36.7billion in 2005 and Europe now accounts for the majority share of this value.

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