Professor Tim Spector blasts food box claims as trying to 'bamboozle' buyers

Healthy eating guru Tim Spector has spoken out about claims on food packaging where ‘high protein!’ ‘low fat’ and ‘added vitamins is promised. The professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London and founder of the Zoe health app was speaking out on Instagram - and said people ‘instantly believe that it’s healthy even when there is little or no evidence to confirm this is true⁣.’

He said that in some cases where a product like granola was boosted as being ‘protein boosted’, ‘high fibre’ and ‘added vitamins’ it was clear that it also contains almost 3 teaspoons of sugar per 50g portion, emulsifiers and 5 different forms of sugar. Prof Spector said that another more simply packaged granola minus the big claims had almost as much protein, more fibre and almost half the amount of sugar and a much more familiar ingredient list.

He said instead of both people should instead take action themselves - and make up a simple mix of kefir and yoghurt with nuts and seeds as a better choice, which he said would pack in plenty more protein, fibre and vitamins than the health halo-laden granola.

Prof Spector said: “When we go shopping. It’s a minefield out there because everyone is trying to bamboozle you with health halos. So you’re buying a breakfast cereal.” Prof Spector said in the video which is embedded in this article, brandishing a box: “You might see this one, which looks very tempting cos it looks like it’s high in fibre.

"It’s high in protein. It’s got all these extra vitamins. But actually, if you look really closely and you spend the time, you’ve got all kinds of chemicals, five different types of sugar in there, and actually you’re getting nearly three spoonfuls of sugar per serving.

“Now compare that to this one where you’re getting nearly as much protein, you’re getting similar amounts of fibre, but half the amount of sugar, but without all those health halos.

“Regardless, it’s so easy to make your own. And by just by combining some Greek yoghurt, some kefir, some nuts and some Berries, you can get over 17 grammes of protein. That’s double what these guys are doing. You’re getting all the fibre, all the nutrients, all the vitamins. It’s really good for your gut microbes as well.”