Heart Foundation Tick - eating out
Eating out is no longer reserved for special occasions. Whether it's lunch at your favourite cafe, a quick meal from the food court with the kids or dinner on the go, Australians are eating out more than ever before. And often with little nutritional information available, making healthier choices isn't easy.
That's why the Heart Foundation has introduced the Tick into everyday meals eaten out of the home. Eating out with Tick, means you can confidently make healthier choices. That's what the Tick is all about. Healthier choices - guaranteed.
When you're eating away from home, choosing a meal with the Heart Foundation Tick means you're making a healthier choice - independent audits guarantee it. Meals have to meet nutrition, promotion and production standards to earn the Tick.
Nutrition
Tick meals contain at least one serve of vegies or equivalent in fibre, meet strict standards for salt, saturated fat, serve size and be virtually trans-fat free.
Wherever Tick meals are sold, it is a requirement that a nutrition information panel (NIP) be available upon request as well as a statement telling you what the meals have been tested.
Promotion
All in store signs and advertising of Tick meals must comply with food law and it must be clear which meals are approved with the Tick and which are not. NIPs are checked against lab reports to make sure they are accurate
Production
This ensures that staff are trained to prepare, cook and serve meals so that they will always meet the Heart Foundation Tick nutrition standards. Outlets must also have a food safety program in place.
FAQs
What is the goal of the Heart Foundation Tick?
The Tick is the Heart Foundation's guide to help people make healthier food choices quickly and easily. It also encourages food manufacturers and food outlets to develop or modify products and meals that meet the Heart Foundation's nutrition standards. In general, Tick approved foods and meals have met strict standards for saturated fat, trans fat, salt and where appropriate, kilojoules and fibre, and with meals we also monitor serve size.
What does the Tick on food mean?
All Tick approved products represent a healthier choice. For example, the Tick Program approves some meat pies, as they are lower in saturated and trans fats, and sodium than their regular counterparts. In the supermarket bread with the Tick is a healthier choice of bread. Cheese with the Tick is a healthier choice of cheese. When eating out, a meal with the Tick is a healthier choice of meal.
How do companies earn the Tick?
All foods, without exception, must meet the Heart Foundation s strict standards. Food companies or outlets must have their foods or meals independently analysed to ensure they meet the nutrient criteria before they can use the Tick on their foods. If a product fails to meet the standards, it cannot enter the Program. The Heart Foundation may work with the food manufacturer or food outlet to improve the nutritional profile of that product or meal, so that it can reapply to the Tick Program.
For Tick meals eaten out the process goes even further, reviewing not only what s in the meal but also the way that the meal is prepared and cooked.
How can we be sure that Tick standards are maintained?
Foods and meals with the Heart Foundation Tick are subject to random testing. This ensures that the strict Tick standards are always maintained. Failure to meet Tick standards will result in foods or meals being expelled from the Tick Program.
Why are food companies charged a fee to use the Tick?
As a non-profit, non-government organization, the Heart Foundation uses these fees to run the Tick Program. They are the sole source of income for the Tick. Fees contribute towards:
- Educating consumers and health professionals about the Tick and its role in good nutrition
- Randomly testing Tick foods or meals to ensure they continue to meet Tick's tough standards
- Supporting national nutrition research and education
- Keeping Tick running
Every cent that comes into Tick goes back into ensuring our standards are met, making the foods we eat healthier and funding nutrition research for the Heart Foundation. It benefits all Australians.
What other standards must be maintained?
In addition to meeting Tick's nutrition standards, all packaging and advertising material for Tick foods must be approved by the Heart Foundation. This means that all Tick foods must have either on packaging or at point of sale, a nutrition information panel as specified in the Australian New Zealand Food Authority Code and comply with the Code of Practice on Nutrient Claims in Food Labels and in Advertisements (NFA, 1995). Tick foods offer not only a healthier choice but truth in food labelling too.