20 September 2011

HEALTHY EATING CAMPAIGN

Grana Padano announces support for student initiative

Grana Padano has announced its support of a brand new initiative, targeting students alongside not-for-profit organisation, Slow Food UK.

Slow Food on Campus is partnering with Grana Padano to deliver a new campaign which is designed to educate and inspire the student community to shop, cook and eat more healthily and sustainably. Throughout September and October this year, Slow Food and Grana Padano will be visiting Freshers Fairs at campuses across the UK, driving awareness about how to enjoy food which tastes great but is also healthy and nutritious.

Grana Padano was recognised by European law as a PDO cheese since 1996. It is a high quality product which is controlled at every stage of the production process, from the farm to the table.

Grana Padano is produced in Northern Italy, in the Po River Valley (Pianura Padana) and also the milk used for its production comes from this specific area which includes the regions of Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto, Emilia Romagna (in the province of Piacenza) and part of the region of Trentino Alto Adige (in the province of Trento).

Grana Padano and Slow Food have a long standing partnership in Italy and in the UK and share many key values such as promoting premium quality artisan food that has a rich heritage and history. Founded in Italy in 1989, the global Slow Food movement links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment.

Research shows that 40% of students struggle to cook for themselves for the first time they move away from home. Either grated or used as part of recipes, Grana Padano cheese is a perfect way of using a natural product for cooking in a number of different ways.

At Freshers Fairs this autumn, Grana Padano will be sampled and will also be providing students with friendly recipes which are inexpensive, simple to prepare and also healthy and nutritious. Some of the recipes will be prepared by famous chef Francesco Mazzei, who is a fan of Italian Grana Padano cheese.

Commenting on the Slow Food on Campus initiative, Mr. Berni, General Director of the Consortium for the Protection of Grana Padano cheese said, “Both Formaggio Grana Padano and Slow Food believe that food should taste good and give pleasure and it should also be produced in a sustainable and fair way. We are proud to be supporting the Slow Food on Campus initiative, helping to educate and encourage students to eat well, look after their health and also care for the environment.”

Slow Food and Grana Padano on Campus are aiming to establish and grow student ambassadors who will be integral to establishing a Slow Food presence on campus and promoting an ethical food system at university.

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