Potatoes are good for you

Growers are calling for potatoes to be re-classified as a ‘supercarb’, a new food group that highlights just how much goodness spuds contain.

The Potato Council has lodged an online petition on the Number 10 website (http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Supercarb#detail) asking people to sign up so that the potato’s unique status can be recognised.
It’s officially classified as a starchy carbohydrate and is the only food in this category which is also a vegetable.
The petition claims potatoes are naturally fat-free, bursting with vitamins and minerals, contain no cholesterol and if served in their skins, are a good source of fibre. Unlike rice and pasta, potatoes also contain vitamin C. The Potato Council say they’re packed full of energy while containing all the goodness of vegetables.
Growers reckon that a new ‘supercarb’ food group would help consumers make informed decisions about including potatoes in their diet and help bolster demand.
• The Downing Street website has an e-petition service that allows individuals, charities and campaign groups to set up petitions, enabling anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the Prime Minister. The petition will be available until May 12.

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