Sodexo has made a deliberate choice for ’my choice’

To make it easier for the consumers to choose healthier foods.

SODEXO, the biggest caterer in the Netherlands, has made healthy food & lifestyle a spearhead action point within its policy. This is expressed among other things in the attractive, well-balanced range of foods offered in Sodexo restaurants. In addition, Sodexo supports its clients in carrying out health-related projects.

For a long time already the principles from the Dutch Guidelines for a Healthy Diet were the basis for the development of recipes for foods, such as healthy ready to eat buns. It goes without saying that healthy fat spreads were chosen for use when preparing the foods. But Sodexo also searched for a long time for a way of making the consumer aware that particular products are a better choice. The My Choice logo offered the solution to this.

In order for the My Choice logo to be appointed to meals that are prepared and pre-cooked on the spot, the nutritional values must be calculated on the spot. An assessment can then be made as to whether the values fall within the set criteria for the specific group of meals. These actions may only be carried out by a skilled employee who is specifically authorised to do so.

A bun with cheese on top is a very commonly sold lunchtime meal. In order to be able to offer this type of bunl with the My Choice logo it is important to know the nutritional values of the separate ingredients, but it is sometimes difficult to obtain these details. Producers do not always have the full nutritional values available or do not see immediately why these are so important.
Sodexo has discussed these matters with suppliers and product developers including suppliers producing meat products and cheese. Also Sodexo promoted the extension of the existing range on offer. The fat content, particularly the saturated fat content, of a slice of full fat cheese or meat product is often too high. Good collaboration has resulted in a wider range of low fat toppings.

In first instance the My Choice logo was intended only for use on products. The branch association Veneca, the Netherlands Association of Catering Organisations, and the Choices International Foundation agreed in 2006 that catering organisations may use the My Choice logo themselves on prepared and pre-cooked meals. The logo is reliable, understood by the consumer, and based on clear scientifically-based criteria. Sodexo has therefore made a deliberate choice to affiliate itself with the My Choice Logo.

In order to be able to apply the My Choice logo the caterer must be accredited.

Conditions for accreditation of the caterer:

Procedure for introduction & implementation of My Choice
Manage nutritional value data centrally (head office)
Notify modified recipe and clear, uniform manner of preparation
Special My Choice training of personnel at catering locations
Strict quality requirements and assurance
Modified communication & marketing

The Sodexo catering locations may carry the My Choice meals either alongside or in place of the usual range. The consumer then has a choice from, for example, a roll with full fat cheese and/or a My Choice roll with low fat cheese.

The Sodexo department of Corporate Quality carries out checks in the restaurants continuously and in addition there are also checks by the external, independent inspection institute ‘SGS Systems & Services Certification’. Product samples are taken without warning for analysis by SGS. There are major consequences if deviations from the standard are found.

Core points:

The consequence of using a quality enhancing logo results in a wider range of healthier food (reduced saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugar)
For Sodexo this has resulted in for instance a wider choice of low fat types of cheese and low fat meat products
Good collaboration with suppliers increases the range of healthier food on offer and therefore the commercial success.