The Food Programme this week is all about the nutrition content in our food. Are our foods, vegetables, and meat as full of goodness as they used to be?
We hear about the pioneering research into the nutritional value of foods done by Drs Elsie Widdowson and Robert McCance.
Sheila is joined in the studio by David Thomas a nutritionist who is worried that the general nutrient level has gone down over the last 40 - 50 years and asks what we will do in the future. Peter Melchett from the Soil Association discusses an organic approach and Bridget McKevith from the British Nutrition Foundation talks about a new European study that is hoping to update the pioneering work of the nutritionists.
Sheila visits organic farm, Perridge Farm, in the Mendip Hills in Somerset where the land was not growing anything. After careful husbandry of the soil itself, they have rebalanced the nutrient content with the help of ruminant nutritionist Jo Scammel and the farm has been winning organic food awards for the quality of its beef and dairy and talks to owners Judith and Clive Freane.
Reporter Gerard Baker talks to Andrew Johnson owner of Home Harvest Salads, who supplies growing salads for supermarkets which the shopper can cut when they want to eat them, making them much fresher than ordinary salad bags.
Finally, Sheila discusses the future of farming and the role of nutrients in the soil with Policy Director of The Soil Association, Peter Melchett, nutritionist David Thomas and nutrition scientist Bridget McKevith from the British Nutrition Foundation.
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Presenting The Food Programme has been Sheila's perfect job.