Vive las verduras

4th and 5th range products, making life easier for the consumer

Paloma Vírseda / Head of the Dept. of Food Technology at the Public University of Navarra

Paloma Vírseda, Head of the Food Technology Department at the University of Navarra’s Agricultural College, explained progress in the so-called fourth and fifth range products. Since the 60’s and 70’s, when family compositions were quite different to modern ones (lots of children, highly defined roles, etc.), to the modern day, in which many family have two incomes, but less free time, the type of products consumed in homes has also changed radically. From a shopping list full of raw materials, we have moved on to one with more prepared products, whilst also demanding that they be both healthy and tasty (this last point being one which many still fail to achieve).

The search for products of this kind has progressed through different stages: at first, products which did no harm were sought. But now we want products which are not only healthy, but actually improve our health. R&D centring on food properties of this kind, together with the search for forms of conservation which do not alter the product and are not harmful, are set to be the mainstays of the sector in the short term. Solutions and innovations for the more accessible consumption of fruit and vegetables formed the conclusion to Vírseda’s speech.

« Programme day 23