Paul McCartney Celebrity Family Heirloom Under Threat by Health Food Giants

As part of the National Vegetarian Week celebrations, tibits restaurant in London is hosting a Great British Battle of the Bangers. Journalists are invited to vote on five different vegetarian sausages (including the McCartney family Sausage) in a blind taste test. Despite the McCartneys healthier recipe they are having to battle for shelf space in the supermarkets. End Quote

Peoples expectations of vegetarian food are so much higher now, food manufacturers, hotels, caterers and restaurants must raise their game

(1888PressRelease) May 20, 2009 - The McCartney family branded sausages will be pitted against rival brands, great pretenders, Frys, Redwoods, Quorn and Cauldron in London at 9am GMT Thursday 21st May

The world is a changed place since Paul McCartney’s family launched their range of plant based alternatives to British nosh. Their pioneering innovative alternative to everyday family fare such as sausages for sausage and mash, pies for pie and chips, and veggie burgers for the ultimate veggie BBQ changed people’s lives.

They made vegetarian food accessible to ordinary folk rather than just the domain of lentil soaking fans of Cranks obsessed bread bakers. Paul McCartney capitalised on the nation’s panic to avoid meat following the UK BSE scare to switch many new groups of people on to vegetarianism highlighting the easy solution that Linda McCartney frozen foods offered.

In 2009, the market is permanently changed. Multinationals have been sold the idea that ethical, fair trade, organic products can not just be viable but even profitable. Cadbury’s bought Green & Blacks, CocaCola bought Innocent, Kellogg’s bought Morning Star, Premier Brands gobbled up the McCartney family’s rivals Quorn and the tofu based Cauldron whilst McDonalds and Burger king sell products approved by the Vegetarian Society.

Premier brands have been accused of using their considerable strong arm and understanding of supermarket psyche to now dominate the meat free supermarket section, vegans say this has resulted in reduced choice as both brands contain egg. Quorn also dominate school meal vegetarian market having made connections with contract caterers such as Sodexo, Compass and Aramark.

Independent ethical vegan brands Frys traditional and Redwood wholefood’s high protein sausages dominate the Independent health food trade fulfilling a demand by healthy eating gourmet food lovers for 5 star sausages

Tony Bishop-Weston author of ‘The Complete Book of Vegan Cooking’ finds it surprising that the brands with the egg protein added (Cauldron and Quorn) have a lower percentage of protein than the completely plant based vegan sausages . They also have moderately high levels of salt. “As a cook this makes me wonder –salt, low protein despite the egg - what’s filling the gap?”

Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says “The new ice age version of Linda McCartney frozen food vegetarian sausages do very well from a health perspective. They now have the highest percentage of protein and the lowest percentage of sodium. In these credit crunch times they also offer excellent value for money – they are only 99p at the frozen food supermarket chain Iceland”

Whether or not they can still win the Vegetarian sausage stakes in the taste test will be judged at The National Vegetarian Week Big Breakfast at tibits restaurant ion London.

Will Stella, Paul and the rest of the McCartney clan’s frozen food sausage heirloom remain the nations family favourite top hot dog or become this BBQ season’s under-done dog ?

Tibits will also showcase the UK's top 10 new vegetarian products, health, nutrition, snacks , drinks, cashew nut ice cream , alcohol free champagne and even vegan condoms.

Please contact Tony @ PEAPR.com Tel: 08712884642 Fax:08712884643 Text:07944068432 for more information.

http://www.optimumnutritionists.com

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Visit Foods For Life London Nutrition - Yvonne Bishop-weston Website

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