German supermarket’s Irish products up for awards

SEVENTEEN Irish-made products sold by German discount supermarket group Aldi have been nominated at one of the premier national food awards.

A range of Aldi products including fresh meat, yoghurt, cakes and fruit juices have been short-listed for the annual Blas na hÉireann National Irish Food Awards which take place in Dingle, Co Kerry next month.

“Being short-listed is a testament to the high standards and dedication to the excellence of our many Irish suppliers and producers,” said an Aldi spokesperson.

Aldi’s Irish products also recently picked up 13 honours at the Great Taste Awards in London. Among its winning products was Kilcrea Manuka Honey made by Healy’s Honey of Ballincollig, Co Cork which received the highest accolade of a three-gold star award.

Separately, National Organic Week kicks off today in a promotion by An Bord Bia to raise awareness of the benefits of organic food.

Producers, retailers and farmers’ markets around the country are staging events including organic farm walks, cookery demonstrations, in-store sampling and seminars.

Among the highlights is a cookery talk on good value organic meat cuts by Darina Allen at the Nano Nagle Centre in Ballygriffin, Co Cork on Wednesday.

Research has shown that 33% of Irish consumers buy some organic product every week. A list of events can be found at www.bordbia.ie

Meanwhile, secondary school students are set to become canny consumers as part of a new education module designed by the National Consumer Agency.

The Shop Smart initiative was launched by the NCA yesterday in a bid to make students more aware of their consumer rights. The teaching resources and online game can be accessed on www.consumerconnect.ie.