WO2004078599A2

WO2004078599A2 - Food packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2004078599A2
Application number: PCT/GB2004/000908
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sally-Anne Wigfield
Original assignee: Sally-Anne Wigfield
Priority date: 2003-03-04
Filing date: 2004-03-04
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: GB0404951D0; GB2399801B; GB2399801A; WO2004078599A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to forms of food packaging, which enable the consumer to maintain a balanced diet via the provision of foodstuffs from the five essential food groups. The invention comprises a number of ways in which the packaging is colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which the foodstuff which may be stored in the packaging belongs. In addition, the invention provides labelling for food packaging comprising colour coding as described above and which is sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the corresponding food group contained within the packaging. Finally, a system for monitoring dietary intake to ensure the maintenance of a healthy and balanced diet is also provided.

Description

FOOD PACKAGING

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food packaging and, more specifically,

5 to food packaging which enables the provision of a meal including the five essential food groups to afford the consumer a balanced diet.

Background to th© Invention

In today's busy world it is difficult for people to take the time to ensure 0 that they are eating a healthy and balanced diet. In addition, consumers are bombarded with confusing information as to what types of food are good for them and how much or how little of these foods they should be eating. Furthermore, because consumers, in particular office workers, are working increasingly long hours, they cannot take the time to select their food such that 5 they are receiving a balanced diet.

In recent years, there has also been a stark increase in the number of "fast food" outlets which, unfortunately, while providing fast, convenience food, do not provide the consumer with food enabling them to achieve a healthy and balanced diet. There has also been a dramatic increase in the amount of o processed food, as opposed to fresh, organic food, which is consumed.

Consequently, there are increasing concerns regarding the general health of the public because of this deteriorating diet pattern. In particular, the instances of coronary heart disease and obesity are drastically increasing in the

Western world, and this is thought to be due to the increased consumption of 5 "fast" and processed foods, as opposed to fresh, organic produce.

There is, therefore, a need for a source of food which is accessible to all sectors of the community, and which will provide the consumer with healthy and balanced meals which contain the five essential food groups, namely fruit and vegetables, bread, cereals and potatoes, meat, fish and alternatives, milk and o dairy products and fat and sugar. In addition, there is a need for such a food source, which provides straightforward nutritional information which consumers from all sectors of the community will find easy to understand and which also provides these foods in appropriate proportions.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, food packaging comprises at least four outer compartments arranged around a central compartment, wherein each outer compartment is uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which foodstuff stored therein belongs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, food packaging comprises a holder and a number of initially separate receptacles each filled with a different foodstuff, wherein the holder comprises at least five compartments, each compartment being adapted to receive a receptacle, and wherein each receptacle is uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which the foodstuff stored therein belongs. According to a third aspect of the present invention, food packaging comprises at least five initially separate receptacles, each receptacle being uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which the foodstuff therein belongs, wherein the receptacles are adapted to be coupled together to form a unitary package. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method of providing a balanced meal for a consumer consisting of five essential food groups comprises the steps of providing a selection of at least five receptacles containing foodstuff, each of which is uniquely colour-coded to identify the respective food group solely to which the foodstuff therein belongs. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, labelling for food packaging comprises colour coding to identify a respective food group solely to which the foodstuff stored in the packaging belongs, the coding being sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the corresponding food group contained in the packaging. A sixth aspect of the present invention provides food packaging comprising labelling as defined above. According to an seventh aspect of the present invention, a system for monitoring dietary intake comprises a check card to which stickers are affixed, the stickers being initially present upon food packaging comprising food and being taken therefrom and affixed to the check card, and wherein the stickers 5 are colour-coded to identify a respective food group and identify the proportion of recommended daily intake of that food group provided by the food in the packaging so as to provide a record of intake.

Common to all aspects of the present invention is colour-coding to identify the five essential food groups which should be consumed daily in order 0 to maintain a balanced diet. These groups are (1) fruit and vegetables, (2) bread, cereals and potatoes, (3) meat, fish and alternatives, (4) milk and dairy products and (5) fat and sugar. Fruit and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fibre, whilst advantageously being low in fat and sodium. Breads, cereals and potatoes are the main source of carbohydrates, and are also a source of 5 fibre, vitamins and minerals. Meat, fish and their alternatives contain protein, vitamins and minerals. In addition, fish oils contain omega 3 fatty acids, which are essential polyunsaturated fatty acids which help to reduce the risk of heart disease. Milk and dairy products are the main source of calcium, a vital mineral for healthy bones, and also represent a source of protein and vitamins. Fatty o and sugary foods obviously contain large amounts of fats and sugars, and also salt.

Each of these food groups is conveniently identified by a different colour coding. For example, the fruit and vegetables food group may be identified by a green colour coding, green being a colour commonly associated with this food 5 group, the bread, cereals and potatoes food group identified by an orange colour coding, orange being an earthy, harvest colour, the meat, fish and alternatives food group identified by a blue colour coding, blue being the colour of the ocean and also being a well-known "safe colour" for vegetarians, the milk and dairy products food group identified by a yellow colour coding, yellow being o the colour of cheese for example, and the fats and sugars food group identified by a red colour coding, red being a warning colour to warn consumers not to eat too much of this food group. Different colours for each of these food groups may be employed, however, it is key that each food group be represented by a different and unique colour coding for ease of identification by the consumer.

The colour coding may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, if it is to be incorporated into food packaging of the invention, this may be achieved via means of labels, stickers or detachable sleeves placed on or around the food packaging and/or one or more receptacles or compartments comprised in the packaging. Alternatively, the whole or a portion of a receptacle or compartment may be coloured. For example, each compartment may be made from a coloured material, or the rim of a receptacle or compartment may be coloured.

In addition to the colour coding, each food group may also be represented by a non-textual coding device such as a picture of a foodstuff which is representative of the particular food group, a pattern, a shape such as a square, triangle, star, or circle, or a symbol such as a Chinese character.

In addition, it is particularly preferable that the colour-coding also provides an indication of the relative proportions of the recommended daily intake of each food group contained within the packaging, in accordance with established nutritional guidance. Accordingly, numbers of dots or shapes may be used in addition to the colour coding, with the number of shapes or dots representing the amount of the recommended daily intake of the particular food group which the food in the packaging contains. For example, four shapes or four dots could represent 4% of the recommended daily intake, while two or three shapes or dots could indicate the presence of two or three recommended daily servings of the particular food groups within the packaging.

The relative proportions of the recommended daily amounts of each food group contained within the food packaging refer to well-established "recommended daily servings" methods used in most countries around the world, apart from the UK. It is noted in this regard that the USA does not assign serving portions to the fat and sugar food group. In addition, potatoes are considered part of the fruit and vegetables food group in the USA, instead of forming part of the bread, cereals and potatoes food group in other countries. The nutritional information provided will therefore be tailored to suit the country where the packaging is to be supplied.

Because the UK does not have an established "recommended daily servings" method, in order to provide guidance to the consumer in the UK as to how much of each food group they should be eating each day, a so-called "Three Thirds" method has been developed. This is based upon the information contained in the "Food Pyramid" illustrated in the Waitrose brochure entitled "Healthy Eating - a Natural Choice" dated January 2003 (Waitrose is part of the UK-based John Lewis Partnership). The brochure advises that a healthy diet for an "average person", ie. a healthy individual over the age of 5 years old, is made up of recommended daily percentages of 33% fruit and vegetables, 33% bread, potatoes and cereal, and 33% of the other food groups, specifically, 12% meat, fish and alternatives, 12% milk and dairy products and 9% fats and sugar.

The amounts of each particular food group contained within the packaging of the invention, or within the food receptacles which may be incorporated into the packaging of the invention, will be calculated by a nutrition scientist by estimating the percentage amount or number of servings (depending on the country of use) of each food group according to the masses of the particular foodstuffs. This is obviously also dependent on the manner in which the foodstuff has been cooked or treated, or is to be cooked or treated by the consumer, if it is not to be eaten raw. This estimate will also provide an indication of the calorie intake corresponding to consumption of the foodstuffs within the packaging.

A convenient check card known as the "t5 guide" may be supplied with or within the packaging of the invention in order to provide nutritional information to the consumer as to the amounts of each food group he or she should aim to consume in order to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. These amounts will relate to the above-described recommended daily servings or percentage amounts of recommended daily intake which will, of course, vary depending on the sex, age, lifestyle, level of activity and health of the consumer.

Turning to the specific types of packaging according to the present invention, when provided for use in countries such as the USA, the food packaging of the first aspect of the present invention comprises at least four outer compartments arranged around a central compartment. Each of the at least four outer compartments is uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group selected from fruit and vegetables, bread, cereals and potatoes, meat, fish and alternatives, and milk and dairy products, to which the foodstuff in the compartment belongs. Foodstuffs from the fat and sugar food group will typically be contained within the central compartment, along with cutlery, condiments and/or a napkin, for example.

Alternatively, if the food packaging according to the first aspect of the present invention is provided for use in countries other than the USA, it will preferably comprise five outer compartments each of which is uniquely colour- coded to identify a respective food group selected from the five essential food groups previously described. In this case, the central compartment will, again, typically contain items such as cutlery, condiments and a napkin.

The outer compartments are preferably relatively sized in dependence of the relative proportion of the respective food group contained within the compartment, which is required to achieve a balanced meal. In more detail, the relative sizes of the compartments reflect the relative proportions of the respective food groups which are recommended to make up a consumer's daily food intake. For example, the compartments containing the fruit and vegetables and bread, cereals and potatoes food groups will generally be the largest and will typically also be substantially the same size. The meat, fish and alternatives compartment and the milk and dairy products compartment will also generally be of similar size to one another, but will be smaller than the fruit and vegetables or cereals compartments. Finally, if included in the packaging of the invention, a fifth outer compartment containing the fat and sugar foodstuffs will be the smallest in size to reflect the fact that only a small amount of foodstuff from this food group is eaten as part of a healthy diet .

Advantageously, one or more of the outer compartments may be adapted such that dividing means may be positioned within the compartment if more 5 than one foodstuff from the particular food group is to be contained therein. For example, it may be desirable to contain a fruit salad and mixed vegetables within the same packaging, in which case the fruit and vegetables compartment will need to be divided into two separate areas to avoid mixing of the two foods. This could also be achieved via means of separate "sub-compartments". 0 The packaging of the first aspect of the invention is typically made from materials such as plastics, preferably biodegradable plastics, metals such as aluminium, ceramic materials, wood, cardboard, including waxed cardboard, or paper pulp, for example. Advantageously the material from which the packaging is made is preferably recyclable and, therefore, environmentally 5 friendly.

The packaging of the first aspect of the invention may form a unitary package, for example a one-piece, moulded article, which may be made by any conventional moulding method and is preferably made from a material selected from plastic, cardboard or paper pulp. Such packaging, when empty, is o stackable to enable efficient storage thereof.

Alternatively, however, the compartments of the packaging may be separable, being held together by conventional means known in the art, for example clips, snap-fit grooves, flanges or releasable adhesive means such as

Velcro™. Such compartments may, advantageously, also be releasably 5 connectable allowing easy cleaning and subsequent re-use.

In addition, in particular if the packaging is initially moulded as a one- piece plastic or cardboard unit, the compartments may be separated from each other by snapping them apart in the case of a plastic unit, as is conventionally known in the art of yoghurt packaging, for example. If the unit is moulded from o cardboard, for example, the compartments may be torn apart along perforated tear lines or lines of weakness provided for this purpose. The foodstuffs to be contained within the packaging of the first aspect of the invention may be loose, ie. unpackaged, or may be contained in separate packages or receptacles. If so contained, such packaging or receptacles are preferably also made from recyclable materials such as plastics, metal, wood, 5 cardboard or paper. The type of material from which the receptacle is made will depend on the foodstuff to be stored therein. For example, a paper receptacle may be useful for the storage of dry foodstuffs such as bread or cakes, whereas materials such as plastic or cardboard, in particular, waxed cardboard, will be more suitable for the storage of liquids, meat or prepared vegetables or fruit, 0 for example. If plastic is used, it must obviously be plastic approved for the containment of foods from all five food groups. Plastic such as polyesters, polycarbonates and polyolefins are suitable for such use. In addition, the plastic should preferably be biodegradable. Advantageously, the receptacles may be shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer compartment in which 5 they are to be placed, in order to provide an effective fit therein.

Furthermore, it is particularly advantageous when dealing with some foodstuffs, for example meats or vegetables to be able to heat the foodstuff in a conventional or microwave oven. Therefore, one or more of the compartments of the packaging according to the first aspect of the invention o may conveniently be made from oven-proof materials. For example, the central compartment may be made from such oven-proof materials while the outer compartments are made from, for example, paper pulp. Additionally, it may be desirable for the consumer to purchase the packaging and food for consumption at a later date, in which case the material from which the 5 packaging is made is advantageously deep-freezable.

Alternatively, in particular if the packaging is a one-piece moulded article one made from cardboard, wood or paper pulp, the central compartment may contain a separate receptacle, for example a bowl, which is made from an oven-proof and preferably deep freezable material, and in which the foodstuffs o may be heated. Such a receptacle may additionally comprise a lid made from a similar material. Furthermore, holes to allow steam to escape from the receptacle during heating of the food may also be provided in the receptacle. The food packaging of the first aspect of the invention may additionally comprise a lid, which preferably covers the entirety of the connected compartments. Alternatively, however, if the compartments are releasably connectable for example, each compartment may have its own lid. Preferably, the lid(s) will be made from materials similar to those used to make the compartments, for example plastics, in particular durable plastics, metal, wood, paper pulp or cardboard and, again, the lid will preferably be recyclable. The material from which the lid(s) is made may also be transparent, such that the consumer can check which foodstuffs are stored in the packaging, either by observing the food itself or the colour coding on the compartments, to ensure he or she will be provided with a meal comprising the five essential food groups. Advantageously, the lid(s) may also be conventional or microwave oven-proof such that the foodstuffs may be deposited thereon, heated in an oven and the lid subsequently used as a plate from which the food may be eaten. It is also advantageous for the material from which the lid(s) is made to be deep-freezable.

Conveniently, in particular if a lid is provided which covers all of the compartments or only the central compartment, the lid may also comprise fastening means such as clips to which cutlery and/or a napkin, for example, may be attached. If present, the fastening means will preferably be present on the underside of the lid such that, when closed on top of the compartment(s), the cutlery and/or napkin is contained within the closed compartment(s) and the upper side of the lid provides a substantially flat surface on which other food packaging of the invention may be stacked for efficient storage.

Any means conventionally known in the art may be used to attach the lid to the rest of the packaging. Preferably, the lid will be adapted such that it forms a snap fit on top of the compartments, for example via means of one or more lips around the edge of the lid which, in use, engage with the open edges of the compartments, as is known in the art. For this purpose, the open edges of the compartments preferably also comprise one or more lips to connect to the one or more lips on the one or more lids. Alternatively, for example if the lid is made from card, it may, likewise, advantageously be held in position by sliding it under one or more lips on the compartments.

Colour coding and/or nutritional information to inform the consumer as to the foodstuffs contained in the packaging and/or to aid his or her choice of foodstuffs to place in the packaging, may additionally be present on the lid, for example in the form of a label or sticker if the lid is made from a material such as a durable plastic, or as printed matter on the lid, if it is made from card for example. Advantageously, the packaging of the present invention may additionally comprise one or more handles to facilitate ease of transport of the packaging by the consumer. If present, the handles may be attached either to one or more compartments or to the lid, or to both.

In addition or as an alternative to the lid, the packaging may comprise a film or foil covering one or more compartments. If a film is present it may be made, for example, from polypropylene as is conventionally known in the art of food packaging. The film is typically applied to the holder via heat sealing and/or vacuum packing such that the freshness of the food contained therein is maintained for as long a period as possible. In addition, the film is advantageously microwave and/or conventional oven-proof and fully deep- freezable. The film or foil may also be colour-coded as previously described. The packaging of the first aspect of the invention may be used to provide a healthy meal consisting of the five essential food groups in a variety of ways. For example, the outer compartments of the packaging may be pre-filled with foodstuffs from different food groups and the filled packaging presented as a ready meal. If the packaging of the invention comprises four outer compartments, these will typically be filled with foodstuffs from the fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and alternatives, bread, cereal and potatoes and milk and dairy products food groups, while foodstuff from the fats and sugars food group will typically be contained within the central compartment along with cutlery, condiments and a napkin, for example. The filled packaging will typically be provided in this form for supply in the USA, for example. However, if the food packaging comprises five outer compartments, all of these compartments will comprise foodstuff from each of the five essential food groups, while the central compartment will typically only contain cutlery, condiments and/or a napkin.

Alternatively, the consumer may fill unfilled packaging according to the first aspect of the invention him or herself, for example using the so-called "t5 guide" or the healthy meal combination cards in conjunction with the labelling presented on the separately provided foodstuffs, in order to choose foodstuffs to put into the packaging of the invention to provide hirn or her with a balanced meal. In a further alternative, the consumer may choose from pre-filled outer compartments to provide him or herself with a balanced meal, again using the nutritional guide or combination cards to aid his or her choice, and attach the pre-filled outer compartments to a central compartment containing cutlery, condiments and a napkin, as desired.

The filled and unfilled food packaging may be provided at a wide variety of locations, for example train stations, supermarkets, kiosks, leisure centres, service stations on motorways, canteens in workplaces and educational establishments, hospitals and aeroplanes, and will therefore be accessible to all members of the community.

Furthermore, if the packaging comprises separate ceramic compartments or receptacles it will provide the consumer with a colour-coded crockery set, which he or she may use (and reuse) in a location such as a cafe, workplace or in his or her own home, for example. The preferred features of the first aspect of the invention are also applicable to the packaging of the second aspect of the invention, which comprises a holder, itself comprising at least five compartments, and a number of initially separate, uniquely colour-coded receptacles filled with foodstuff. In more detail, the packaging of the second aspect of the invention preferably comprises five receptacles. The holder of the packaging of the third aspect of the present invention is preferably in the form of a tray, but may alternatively be in the form of a compartmented bag or plastic webbing as is typically used to hold cans of drink, in particular beer or lager. In addition, the holder is typically made from materials such as plastics, preferably biodegradable plastics, metals such as aluminium, cardboard or paper pulp, for example. If the holder is a compartmented bag, it is envisaged that it could also be made from fabric, in particular those made from natural fibres such as cotton. In this case, one or more of the compartments may advantageously be made from an insulating material so that food may be kept hot or cold as desired within the bag. Preferably, the material from which the holder is made is recyclable and, therefore, environmentally friendly.

The compartments of the holder may be permanently joined together, for example the holder may be a one-piece, moulded article, which may be made by any conventional moulding method, preferably being moulded from plastic, paper pulp or cardboard. Alternatively, the compartments may be separable being held together by conventional means known in the art, for example, clips, snap-fit grooves, flanges or releasable adhesive means such as Velcro™, therefore being releasably connectable, or perforated joins, as previously described in relation to the packaging of the first aspect of the invention. The receptacles suitable for containing foodstuffs are preferably also made from materials such as those described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

Preferably, each compartment is shaped such that a receptacle having a complementary shape will fit inside it. For example, a compartment having a square base would be suitable for the receipt of a square-based carton.

Conveniently, therefore, the empty holders of the packaging of the third aspect of the present invention, providing that they comprise compartments of the same or similar shape, may be nested or otherwise stacked one on top of one another, again to enable space-saving storage. In addition to colour coding on the food receptacle, each compartment of the holder may advantageously be similarly identified using unique colour coding, which indicates the food group contained therein. As described in relation to packaging of the first aspect of the invention, if the holder is a one- piece, moulded article, the colour coding of the compartments is typically achieved via means of labels, stickers or a detachable sleeve, for example. However, if the holder comprises detachable compartments, each compartment may have a label or sticker affixed to it or may itself be formed from coloured materials.

The packaging of the second aspect of the invention preferably also comprises a lid, again as described in relation to the first aspect of the invention, and preferably also comprising colour coding thereon. The closed packaging may, again, be easily stacked due to the lid providing a substantially flat surface upon which further packaging may be placed.

As previously mentioned, the holder of the packaging of the second aspect of the invention may take the form of a compartmented bag. In this case, the bag may conveniently comprise an additional storage section, in which a plate, cutlery, napkin and condiments, for example, may be stored.

The packaging of the second aspect of the invention may be used to provide balanced meal in any of the ways described in relation to the packaging of the first aspect of the invention. The preferred features of the receptacles of the packaging according to the first and second aspects of the present invention apply equally to food packaging according to the third aspect of the present invention, in which the receptacles are adapted to be coupled together to form a unitary package. In addition, the receptacles are preferably relatively sized in dependence of the relative proportion of the respective food group required to achieve a balanced meal, as described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

The receptacles of the packaging according to the third aspect of the present invention may be held together by conventional means known in the art, for example, clips, snap-fit or so-called "twist and unlock" grooves or flanges, thus allowing the compartments to be easily separated from each other. They are also advantageously releasably connectable to achieve easy cleaning and further use thereof, for example. Additionally, the receptacles may be sub-divided, again as previously described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.

Each receptacle preferably comprises a lid to aid retention of the 5 foodstuff therein. Advantageously, each lid is adapted so as to be a press-fit into its respective receptacle such that, on coupling of the receptacles to one another, a tight and reliable fit between the receptacles is achieved. Alternatively, one or more lids may be made from film or foil or a piece of waxed cardboard, as known in the art for example. The nature of the lid is not 0 important as long as it achieves effective retention of the foodstuff, whether packaged or loose, within the receptacles and allows effective coupling of the receptacles to form the desired unitary package.

The packaging of the third aspect of the present invention advantageously also comprises a carry handle. This may be achieved in a 5 variety of ways. For example, clips may be attached to the lid of the, once coupled together, uppermost receptacle and to the base of the lower most receptacle, to which a carry strap may be conventionally clipped. Alternatively, a carry strap comprising a ring of, for example, plastic or strong cardboard at each end may be attached to the unitary package by passing each end of the o package through a respective ring.

Again, the packaging of the third aspect of the invention may be used in the provision of balanced meals either in the form of prepackaged meals or meals which the consumer has selected for him or herself, for example with the aid of the "t5" nutritional guide or "t5" healthy meal combination cards and the 5 labelling found on the packaged foodstuff.

Labelling on the food packaging of the invention may also be used to provide the consumer with detailed nutritional information regarding the foodstuffs contained within the packaging. For example, labelling of the fifth aspect of the present invention comprises colour coding to identify a respective o food group solely to which the foodstuff stored in the packaging belongs. The coding is sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the corresponding food group contained within the packaging. For example, the colour coding in such labelling may take the form of at least one coloured band, with a different colour representing a different food group for ease of identification by the consumer. The width of the band, for example, will reflect the amount of that particular food group present in the packaging. For instance, the thicker the coloured band, the higher the percentage amount or number of servings of the food group contained within the packaging. It is envisaged that this type of labelling will be of particular use to consumers with special dietary requirements. For example, once the consumer is familiar with the colour coding and, specifically, which colour represents which food group, he or she will be able to tell straight away from the colour-coded bands on the labelling whether the food item contained therein is high or low in carbohydrates, which is provided by the bread, cereals and potatoes food group, or high or low in protein, which is provided by the meat, fish or alternatives food group. He or she will, therefore, easily be able to pick food to suit his or her dietary requirements. Accordingly, such labelling may be used not only on prepackaged complete meals comprising all of the five essential food groups, which would mean that the labelling comprises five differently coloured bands, but it may also be used to label packaged foodstuffs containing food from one or more of the five essential food groups. Preferably, however, the colour coding in the labelling of the fifth aspect of the invention comprises five different colours, each of which identifies a different food group selected from the five essential food groups previously described.

Labelling presented on the packaging of the invention may conveniently comprise removable stickers which are colour-coded to identify a food group contained within the packaging and which identify the proportion of the recommended daily intake of that food group provided by the food within the packaging. The consumer may conveniently remove this sticker from the packaging and place it on to a check card, or "t5 guide". By removing the stickers from the packaging comprising the food which he or she eats and placing them on the card, the consumer may keep an accurate record of his or her daily food group intake and, therefore, at the end of the day clearly see if he or she has met the recommended daily allowances of each food group, as previously discussed. This system provides a convenient way of monitoring dietary intake, which is easily useable by all members of the community, including children for whom it will present an entertaining and informative way of controlling their food intake and teaching them about the benefits of eating

The check card, or "t5 guide", is adaptable depending on the consumer who is using it and, therefore, the recommended daily intake of the various foodstuffs for that particular type of consumer. For example, it is clear that a healthy individual of at least 5 years of age, for example, will require different recommended daily allowances of each of the five essential food groups, to a consumer with a health or dietary problem, such as somebody with a high cholesterol level, hypertension or an allergy, for example. Such consumers will be able to choose the appropriate guide and use it in order to aid them in achieving a balanced diet suited to their particular lifestyle, health or age, for example.

The concept of the present invention has been branded using a trademark comprising a flower-type motif of five petals each of which is a different colour corresponding to the above-described colour-coding. The numeral "5" is found in the centre of the motif.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example of food packaging of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the packaging of the first aspect of the invention formed from separable compartments; Figure 3 is a perspective view of food packaging of the present invention comprising a separate receptacle and lid to be contained within the central compartment;

Figure 4 is a side view of a holder of packaging according to the present 5 invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the holder of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of packaging of the invention, showing a holder, comprising receptacles, and a lid;

Figure 7 shows an example of packaging according to the invention in o the form of a compartmented bag.

Figure 8 is a side view of a further example of food packaging according to the present invention;

Figure 9 shows an example of labelling according to the invention for use with a particular foodstuff; 5 Figure 10 shows the label of Figure 9 as applied to a receptacle containing foodstuff;

Figure 11 shows a further example of labelling according to the invention for use with a particular pre-packaged ready meal;

Figure 12 shows an example of labelling applied to a receptacle o containing foodstuff, which may form part of the system of monitoring dietary intake according to the invention; and

Figures 13 and 14 show the two faces of a check card, or "t5 guide", suitable for incorporation with or into the food packaging of the invention to provide nutritional information to the consumer. 5

Detailed Description

The example of packaging 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 1 includes a central compartment 2 and four outer compartments 3. This example of packaging finds particular use in countries such as the USA where the fat and sugar food group is not assigned a particular number of recommended daily servings. Accordingly, foodstuff from this food group is provided along with cutlery in the central compartment 2, as shown in Figure 1 where the colour coding identifying the fat and sugar food group is represented by the letter R. The outer compartments 3 are sized according to the relative proportions of foodstuff from the other four food groups contained 5 therein and required to make up a balanced meal. The colour coding for the remaining four food groups is represented in Figure 1 as follows: the letter G for the fruit and vegetables food group, 0 for the bread, cereals and potatoes food group, B for the meat, fish and alternatives food group and Y for the milk and dairy products food group. o Figure 2 shows a further example of packaging according to the present invention, which is made up of a central compartment 4 and five separable, outer compartments 5. Again, as in Figure 1 , the outer compartments are sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the particular food group they provide. 5 A further example of packaging according to the invention is shown in

Figure 3. The packaging includes five outer, proportionally sized compartments 6 arranged around a central compartment 7, into which a bowl 8 itself having a lid 9 may be placed. The bowl 8 may be used to heat up the foodstuff stored in the packaging and, as shown in Figure 9, has holes 10 to 0 allow steam to escape during such heating. In addition, the lid is securely attached to the bowl by means of a recess 11 and tab 12 mechanism, as also shown in Figure 3.

As can be seen from Figures 4 and 5, the holder 13 of an example of the packaging of the invention may comprise differently shaped compartments, 5 each of which is shaped to receive a receptacle having a complementary shape to that of the compartment, as shown in Figure 6.

More specifically, the packaging illustrated in Figure 6 shows a holder including two round-based compartments 14 which are suitable for receipt of similarly round-based tubs 15 which are suitable for the containment of a o variety of liquid or solid foodstuffs. The holder also includes two square-based compartments 16, which are suitable for receipt of similarly square-based cartons 17 in which liquids may be stored. The holder illustrated in Figure 6 also includes a cylindrically shaped compartment 18 which is suitable for receipt of a bottle 19.

The packaging of Figure 7 is made up of a compartmented bag, in which each compartment is colour-coded such that the food group to which the foodstuff stored therein belongs may be identified. The colour-coding is represented in Figure 7 in the same way as described above in relation to

Figure 1.

Figure 8 shows a further example of food packaging according to the present invention, which is in the form of a so-called "food tube". The food tube of Figure 8 is made up of five, initially separate, interlocking, cylindrical receptacles 20, each of which contains a foodstuff from a different food group and is colour-coded to indicate the food group to which the foodstuff belongs. The colour coding is represented in Figure 8 as described above in relation to Figure 1. The receptacles of the food tube shown in Figure 8 are sized according to the relative proportions of foodstuff from each of the five food groups required to make up a balanced meal. The food tube may be carried by means of handle or strap 21, including a compartment in which condiments, cutlery and/or a napkin ring may be stored. Figure 9 shows an example of labelling according to the invention, in which colour coding is in the form of coloured bands sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the corresponding food group provided by the foodstuff in the receptacle to which the label is attached, as shown in Figure 10. Again, the colour coding in Figure 9 is represented as in the previous Figures, and shows that the particular foodstuff comprises 11 % of the recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables and 8% of that of the bread, cereals and potatoes food group.

Figure 11 shows a further example of labelling according to the present invention, which will be applied to a ready meal containing all five essential food groups. The food groups are represented by the proportionally sized bands in the label of Figure 11 , and which are identified as previously described. The amounts of the recommended daily intake for each food group are also given on the label.

Figure 12 shows an example of a food receptacle containing only one of the essential food groups, specifically a carton of milk. The label is colour coded to identify the food group, here the milk and dairy products group as shown by the letter Y. In addition, a detachable sticker 22 may be removed from the carton and attached to the guide shown in Figures 13 and 14, in accordance with the system for monitoring dietary intake, in accordance with the invention. The check card, or "t5 guide", of Figures 13 and 14 provides easy to understand, nutritional information to the consumer. Specifically, the five essential food groups are identified using different colours which, in Figures 13 and 14, are indicated as previously described. The check card provides information as to the recommended daily servings of each food group for different types of consumer, and also provides boxes in which the consumer may mark the number of servings or percentage amount (depending on the country of use) of each food group he or she has consumed that day, for example by affixing a sticker 22 (see Figure 12) showing this information from the food packaging to the card. As previously described, the check card may be adapted to suit a particular "type" of consumer. Here, for example, additional spaces for recordal of snacks eaten per day are provided, as shown in Figure 13. The check card may conveniently be folded to the size of a standard credit card and, thus, may be transported in the wallet of the consumer for safe-keeping and future reference. It will be appreciated that the above-described drawings show specific examples of the present invention, the various features of which have been described in detail in the Summary of Invention. The skilled person will, however, appreciate that the various aspects of the present invention may be combined and/or implemented in many ways such that many more examples of the invention, not fully described or illustrated herein, may be envisaged. The food packaging of the present invention will be easily used by members of all sectors of the community having all types of occupation, for example adults eg. office workers, students, people working outdoors, service personnel, and children alike. The packaging of the invention will also be available to the consumer in a wide variety of locations, for example in supermarkets, kiosks, service stations on motorways and canteens in workplaces and educational establishments. In addition, it is envisaged that pre-packed food packaging of the invention which is pre-filled with the appropriate foodstuffs will find particular use as ready meals on aeroplanes or in hospitals, for example.

These prepackaged ready meals may be themed such that the consumer may choose his meal according to the effect he wishes it to have. For example, Figure 11 shows a label which could be used on a prepackaged meal which aims to give the consumer an energy boost in preparation for going out on the town, exercising or working late having already done a full day's work, for example. Therefore, this so-called "themed meal" could be called "After 5 Revive", as shown in Figure 11.

Claims

1. Food packaging comprising at least four outer compartments arranged around a central compartment, wherein each outer compartment is uniquely

5 colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which foodstuff stored therein belongs.

2. Food packaging according to claim 1 , comprising five outer compartments.

3. Food packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each outer o compartment is relatively sized in dependence of the relative proportion of the respective food group required to achieve a balanced meal.

4. Food packaging according to any preceding claim, which is a unitary package.

5. Food packaging according to any preceding claim, wherein the 5 compartments are separable.

6. Food packaging according to claim 5, wherein the compartments are releasably connectable.

7. Food packaging according to any preceding claim, additionally comprising a lid. 0

8. Food packaging according to claim 7, wherein the colour-coding is present on the lid.

9. Food packaging according to any preceding claim, in which each outer compartment is filled with a respective foodstuff belonging solely to a food group selected from the following: fruit and vegetables; bread, cereals and 5 potatoes; meat, fish and alternatives; milk and dairy products; and fat and sugar.

10. Food packaging comprising a holder and a number of initially separate receptacles each filled with a different foodstuff, wherein the holder comprises at least five compartments, each compartment being adapted to receive a o receptacle, and wherein each receptacle is uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which foodstuff stored therein belongs.

11. Food packaging according to claim 10, comprising five receptacles.

12. Food packaging according to claim 10 or 11 , in which each receptacle is filled with a respective foodstuff belonging solely to a food group selected from the following: fruit and vegetables; bread, cereals and potatoes; meat, fish

5 and alternatives; milk and dairy products; and fat and sugar.

13. Food packaging according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein each compartment of the holder is shaped in order to receive a complementarily shaped receptacle.

14. Food packaging according to any of claims 10 to 13, wherein the o compartments are separable.

15. Food packaging according to claim 14, wherein the compartments are releasably connectable.

16. Food packaging according to any of claims 10 to 15, additionally comprising a lid. 5

17. Food packaging according to claim 16, wherein the colour-coding is present on the lid.

18. Food packaging according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein each compartment is also uniquely colour-coded in order to identify the respective receptacle to be contained therein. 0

19. Food packaging comprising at least five initially separate receptacles, each receptacle being uniquely colour-coded to identify a respective food group to which the foodstuff therein belongs, wherein the receptacles are adapted to be coupled together to form a unitary package.

20. Food packaging according to claim 19, wherein each receptacle is 5 relatively sized in dependence of the relative proportion of the respective food group required to achieve a balanced meal.

21. Food packaging according to claim 20, in which each receptacle is filled with a respective foodstuff belonging solely to a food group selected from the following: fruit and vegetables; bread, cereals and potatoes; meat, fish and 0 alternatives; milk and dairy products; and fat and sugar.

22. A method of providing a balanced meal for a consumer consisting of five essential food groups, comprising the steps of providing a selection of at least five receptacles containing foodstuff, each of which is uniquely colour-coded to identify the respective food group solely to which the foodstuff therein belongs.

23. A method according to claim 22, in which the receptacles are provided in the form of food packaging according to any of claims 1 to 21.

24. Labelling for food packaging comprising colour coding to identify a respective food group solely to which the foodstuff stored in the packaging belongs, the coding being sized according to the proportion of the recommended daily intake of the corresponding food group contained in the packaging.

25. Labelling according to claim 24, wherein the colour coding is in the form of at least one coloured band.

26. Labelling according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the colour coding comprises five different colours, each of which identifies a different food group.

27. Labelling according to any of claims 24 to 26, in which the food groups are selected from the following: fruit and vegetables; bread, cereals and potatoes; meat, fish and alternatives; milk and dairy products; and fat and sugar.

28. Food packaging comprising labelling as defined in any of claims 24 to 27.

29. A system for monitoring dietary intake comprising a check card to which stickers are affixed, the stickers being initially present upon food packaging comprising food and being taken therefrom and affixed to the check card, and wherein the stickers are colour-coded to identify a respective food group and identify the proportion of recommended daily intake of that food group provided by the food in the packaging so as to provide a record of intake.

30. A system according to claim 29, in which the food groups are selected from the following: fruit and vegetables; bread, cereals and potatoes; meat, fish and alternatives; milk and dairy products; and fat and sugar.