The peelable labels on a variety of foods are likely to be altered soon as a result of a new scheme that will introduce half-portions of fruit and vegetables.

A voluntary code has been brought in by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) allowing manufacturers to count composite foods when determining how many of the recommended five-a-day different products contain.

This means that even ready meals and processed foods will be able to state on their printed labels that they contain half a portion of fruit or veg, as long as they have a green or amber rating on the government's traffic lights system.

For example, baked beans will qualify because they are in tomato sauce, while a non-meat lasagne ready-meal will also fit the criteria.

As long as foods do not contain more than 30 per cent of the recommended daily amount of saturated fat and 40 per cent of the guidelines for salt, they will be able to advertise that they are part of the five-a-day target.

IGD spokesperson Joanne Denny-Finch said: "Composite foods are an important source of fruit and vegetables in the diet. Labelling the number of portions in composite foods helps consumers increase their five-a-day intake."

This comes after the Department for Health found that only 30 per cent of adults manage to eat the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables every day.

Denny Bros Ltd, 03 August 2011