CELEBRATING CANNED FOOD WEEK UKReach for the can this April(see below for recipe links)
If most of us take a look in our cupboard, there’s one item which we’re more than likely to find: a can. Be it a can of beans, for when you’re looking to make a quick and easy meal, chopped tomatoes to make a base for a curry or Bolognese, or a can of soup to take into work for lunch - the trusty can remains a store cupboard staple. And it appears that the sales figures back this up too, with consumers having spent £2.4 billion* on canned goods in 2013 – a £3.2 million increase on the previous year.
*Kantar Worldpanel 
To celebrate the can’s popularity, Canned Food UK will be running Canned Food Week 2014 this April 14-20. The week is designed to help the everyday consumer to plan meals, eat nutritionally-balanced dishes and show how using canned food is a healthy, time-effective and cost-effective way to cook.
Jason Hegarty, Chairman for Canned Food UK, comments: “The annual figures show that canned food continues to play an important role in cooking in the majority of UK households, and that is why Canned Food Week is so important to us. Canned food clearly presents an affordable option, with convenience and nutrition playing an important role, too.” Canned Food UK promotes a healthy balanced diet, including a mix of fresh, frozen, dried and canned food. However, not many people know about the nutritional benefits of eating canned food. Thanks to the canning process, where food is sealed and cooked in the can straight after harvesting, it means that all the vitamins and minerals are locked in - sometimes containing more than fresh alternatives.
This year, Canned Food UK has teamed up with a number of partners with a series of new and existing recipes, which highlight the versatility of cooking with canned food for a number of different audiences – from its convenience and affordability for families and students, to its health benefits for the older generation and those looking to watch their weight. Plus, there are two new recipes from Canned Food UK ambassador James Martin.
Running from Monday to Sunday, Canned Food Week 2014 takes consumers through a series of recipes designed to make cooking simple and accessible to all. Anyone can get involved from the comfort of their own home by trying some of the meals below: For more information and additional recipes visit
www.cannedfood.co.uk/cannedfoodweek | 
