HEALTHY EATING AND LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMES

• Woolworths pioneered the practice of date marking (“Sell By” and “Best Before” or “Use By” dates) in South Africa, giving customers an indication of when food would be at its best.
• The company focuses on avoiding the use of unnecessary additives (including preservatives) in foods.
• Woolworths does not sell whole eggs from caged hens and is converting our egg ingredients in products to free range.
• Our exclusive range of Ayrshire dairy products and all fresh milk is guaranteed free of rBST growth hormones. Daily testing ensures that Woolworths Ayrshire milk does not contain antibiotics and guarantees the milk’s quality, safety and freshness. Woolworths also ensures that their Ayrshire cows have a healthy diet and therefore have excluded the use of animal by-products to supplement their feed.
• In recent years Woolworths has removed hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVOs) from its fresh prepared food and has removed significant amounts of salt (primarily from its breads, cereals and cold meats) and of sugar from its chilled 100% fruit juices and nectars.
• Woolworths offers yoghurts made with natural flavours and colours, containing no added preservatives and no artificial sweeteners. In addition, all Woolworths yoghurts are made with rBST hormone-free milk. Woolworths yoghurts contain exclusive HOWARU™ probiotic cultures to help stimulate the immune system and assist in lactose digestion.
• Woolworths actively removes and avoids the use of allergens and other ingredients of concern to customers, where possible. No tartrazine or any form of glutamate may be used to produce Woolworths foods.
• Woolworths was the first South African retailer to remove aspartame from its foods. Woolworths has also removed the sweeteners saccharin and cyclamate from its own-brand foods.
• Woolworths-branded foods no longer contain azodyes, a type of artificial colourant frequently used to colour sweets and other brightly coloured foodstuffs.
• Woolworths pioneered allergen labelling in South Africa by introducing “nut logos” and a “contains” section (later changed to the “allergen” section) on product labels.
• Where we can do so, we will provide choice within our ranges for customers who wish to avoid particular ingredients, e.g. specific gluten-free products, meal solutions not containing garlic, etc.
• It is Woolworths policy to remove or replace ingredients derived from genetically modified crop sources where possible. Where this is not possible and products contain ingredients which may be derived from genetically modified crops, the products are clearly labelled, enabling customers to make an informed choice in their product selection. We are working with our branded suppliers to ensure they comply with this policy.
• By 2015 50% of food products will be provided as healthy food options.