A ‘mega-healthy’ airline meal that satisfies all 222 Article 13.1 newly approved health claims has been created by experts at Leatherhead Food Research.

CEO Dr Paul Berryman challenged his team of scientific, regulatory and marketing experts to devise a meal that could make all 222 claims.

“It wasn’t that simple, but we did it within one week,” says Paul.
“The meal is specially designed for long haul flights and is packed with minerals, vitamins and everything else that EFSA currently thinks is healthy. It even includes charcoal tablets to reduce excessive flatulence (useful in the enclosed airplane cabin) and some sugar-free chewing gum to chew after the meal to freshen breath and neutralize plaque acids. The chewing also helps relieve pressure in the ears – but this isn’t an official health claim.”

Named Leatherhead Airline Meal Formula 222, the meal consists of:
Fresh and Smoked Salmon Terrine (with ALA and DHA for brain and heart function); Mixed Leaf Side Salad with Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing (for cholesterol claims): High Fibre Multigrain Bread Roll (for 17 claims around fibre, folate and arabinoxylan); Chicken Casserole with Lentils & Vegetables (for iron absorption, vitamins and minerals); Live Yogurt Blancmange (for cholesterol, gut health and blood glucose control); Cranberry, Raspberry & Elderflower Sports Drink (for energy, vitamins and electrolytes); Pure Spring Water (to offset dehydration). And for those watching their waistline, the pack also includes mixed berry meal replacement shakes, while jet-lag sufferers can sip on a melatonin-containing hot chocolate drink.

To illustrate the meal, Leatherhead has produced a poster with photos of the meal box and each component. It lists all 222 health claims showing which meal component makes which claim.