Latest news with #EvaHumphries
Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Less salt than bacon and lower in fat than salami: Why Spam is making a comeback
Bini Suresh, a media spokesperson for British Dietietic Association (BDA) says: 'We can't ignore Spam as a good source of protein, containing iron and B vitamins naturally found in pork. Plus it's gluten-free, low carb and fortified with sodium ascorbate (a form of vitamin C). Of course it's OK for someone to consume processed meats as part of a balanced diet, but frequency, portion size and what other foods you eat with it are key.' But that's not to say it hasn't had its fair share of ridicule or is one of the most healthy of processed meats around. Critics poke at its low nutritional value, deriding its bland, sweet and salty flavour ('porky with a bad ham taste', say some) and saying it's something only eaten by students and seniors. What is actually in Spam? An amusingly proud declaration by the manufacturers on the can boasts a 'minimum of 90 per cent meat'. It's true, Spam is primarily made up of pork (89 per cent), with a small percentage (2 per cent) of ham. Other ingredients include: starch, salt, water, sugar, stabiliser (triphosphates), a vague-sounding ''flavourings' and stabilisers, of which Eva Humphries, a clinical nutritionist at KYN care homes, is 'not so keen on'. There is research that suggests that 'triphosphates can also have a negative effect on gut and kidney health,' adds Humphries, 'which may disproportionately impact the elderly. Spam certainly doesn't win any prizes in nutritional value, being particularly high in saturated fat and salt. The Government recommends that saturated fat should provide no more than 10 per cent of our total calorie intake. This is about 30g per day for men and 20g per day for women. A tin of Spam is 340g, and every 100g (an average serving) contains 9.7g of saturated fat – nearly half our daily allowance. Scoff the whole tin, and you will be easily exceeding the recommended amount. At 292kcal per 100g, it's high in calories too. Nor does its salt levels fair well, with 2.4g per 100g, over a third of the daily recommended maximum of 6g. Data from the ongoing Global Burden of Disease study shows that diets high in sodium are one of the leading causes of death from cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) worldwide. Dell Stanford, a senior dietitian at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), explains: 'Too much salt makes your body hold on to water, which puts pressure on your blood vessels and kidneys. The majority of salt we eat comes from manufactured foods so it's important to read food labels and reduce the salt we add to food and cooking.' Spam is an ultra-processed food (UPF) which puts it in the category of foods linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, 'but let's get this into perspective. High levels of consumption play a role; if you are eating UPFs occasionally, they will likely do you little harm,' says Stanford. Aisling Pigott, also a dietitian, agrees: 'All foods have their place, from Spam to sausage rolls and beyond. It's not a good idea to eat UPFs every day, nor would it be a good idea to eat only one type of vegetable. Variety is key, and sometimes we think too much about labelling foods as 'good' and 'bad' and not enough about diversity within our diets. This is not an everyday food, but a convenient protein option for those who want to enjoy it now and again.' How does Spam compare to other processed meats? The common link with processed meats is their high fat and salt content, so there is an eat-with-caution factor when choosing them. They also contain preservatives and stabilisers such as sodium nitrate which is highlighted as a Group 1 carcinogen by The World Health Organisation if consumed in high quantities over time. If you want to compare Spam with salami, the latter has more fat, saturates, salt and calories. Corned beef has a similar profile but generally less additives, while bacon has less calories and fat but more salt.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Great British Food Festival to return to Arley Hall this May
A food and drink festival will return to Cheshire this May. The Great British Food Festival will be held at Arley Hall near Northwich on May 10 and 11, from 10am until 5pm each day. The event will see a host of chefs demonstrating their skills, alongside street food vendors serving up global cuisine. There will also be an artisan market, where visitors can discover new producers, as well as sampling vegan and gluten-free treats. Chef demonstrators will include qualified clinical nutritionist Eva Humphries, who is "committed to inspiring audiences to create meals from seasonal British produce." She said: "Cookery demonstrations are such a great opportunity to pick up new skills and learn insider tips on making our food more delicious and nutritious. "Unlike recipe books or social media, live demonstrations offer an immersive experience with an expert. "In my case, I help you make healthy food genuinely tasty so it turns into delicious food - with the side benefit of it being good for you." New to Arley this year will be the Chat Stage, where visitors will have the opportunity to listen in on discussions between chefs and foodies about everything from trends and the best tools for the kitchen to pairing wines. There will also be samples to try and the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting. The Manchester-based Alberti Twins, John and Tony, who appeared on the first season of Love Island, will also be at the event. John Alberti said: "We love doing the festival. "It's great to get feedback from a live audience. We specialise in traditional Italian dishes. "Our family is from Tuscany and our Nonna was a chef and we've grown up with great food and big family meals." Mark Bonito, from Vanlife Eats, will be sharing his recipes inspired by travel and adventure from his van at Arley Hall. And fresh from their appearance on Dragons' Den will be LumberjAxe, who have teamed up with Kadai Fire Bowls to present the Fire Stage. Hosted by Wayne of Daddy Bear Grills, the stage promises the smell of smoke and rich aromas from cooking over live fire. The family behind the Great British Food Festival are celebrating 15 years of hosting the popular events this year. Danny and Janine Maycock are from Altrincham - and Arley Hall is their home show. Janine said: "Arley Hall is such a fantastic setting. "Visitors get to experience high quality food and drink in one of the most beautiful country house estates in England." Live music will be performed throughout the weekend by a range of artists including The Rush and Josh Owen. Tickets are available at
