Archives

Food Comparison: Which No Added Sugar Baked Beans are Best?

When we’re out and about shopping, savvy consumers these days engage in price comparisons in an effort to hunt out the best deals for our pocket. Those same savvy consumers would do well to consider engaging in food ingredient comparisons too, to hunt out the best deals for our gut.

You might think there’s little in the difference between one brand of food item over another, but when ingredients are compared, you may well discover that one is potentially much healthier than the other.

Thurles.Info recently posted about the free Yuka App which enables the public to scan barcodes and get an easy to read summary of what’s in your food.

Note: The Yuka App was created and launched in 2017 by the French team of Julie Chapon, François Martin and Benoit Martin. They wanted to create an easy way for consumers to find out what ingredients and nutrients were in our food.
It’s now estimated that over 10 million people use this App in France and the UK. It has even influenced a major French grocery shop chain, Intermarché, to change ingredients in 900 products following a drop in sales by consumers using the App and refusing to purchase products with various additives.

On a recent shopping excursion we used the Yuka App to compare one staple food item, found in almost every Irish cupboard – the tin of Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce.

Question: Which No added Sugar Baked Beans are best?

According to Yuka, Batchelors No Added Sugar Baked Beans are rated poor (49/100) because of the presence of E954 otherwise known as Saccharin, a hazardous additive associated with increased risks of certain cancers and cardiovascular disease if consumed in large quantities.
In comparison, Heinz No Added Sugar Baked Beans are rated excellent (84/100) with, according to Yuka, no hazardous additives present.
Bramwells No Added Sugar Baked Beans are rated excellent (90/100), also, with, according to Yuka, no hazardous additives present.

In two large supermarket chain stores checked today:
Three 225g cans of Bachelors Baked Beans (No Added Sugar) retailed for €3.29.
Three 200g cans of Heinz Baked Beans (No Added Sugar) retailed at €3.00.
Three 225g cans of Bramwells Baked Beans (No Added Sugar) retailed at €1.47.
A significant difference in price, but also a potentially big difference in health, while also proving “it pays to shop around”.

So savvy shoppers consider comparing prices AND ingredients when out and about bargain hunting. As the old adage goes: health is wealth.

FSAI Recall Tesco ‘Growers Harvest Garden Peas’ Due To Foreign Body Contamination.

Date: Saturday, 25 November 2023.
Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2023.32.
Product Identification: Growers Harvest Garden Peas product details.
Batch Code: See table shown below.
Country Of Origin: Unknown?

Best Before DateBatch CodesPack size
Jan-2523196, 23197, 23198, 23199, 23200900g
Feb-2523237, 23238, 23239, 23240900g
Mar-2523256, 23257, 23258, 23259, 23260, 26261900g
Apr-2523275, 23276, 23277900g

Message: Tesco, on the advice of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), are recalling the above batches of ‘Growers Harvest Garden Peas’, 900g, due to the possible contamination of an unknown type of berry, which may therefore pose a risk to customers, if consumed.

Action Required:
Retailers: Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

A Song For A Sunday.

There is a tide in the affairs of men. Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune”.

Extract taken from Shakespeare’s ‘Julius Caesar’, meaning that the key to success in life, lies in knowing the motivation of men, and it is up to each man to recognize, and seize his opportunity.

Man in the Mirror.

Vocals: American singer, songwriter, dancer and philanthropist, known as the “King of Pop”, the late Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29th, 1958 – June 25th, 2009).

Songwriters: American songwriter, lyricist, and record producer Glen Ballard and American singer and songwriter Deborah Christine “Siedah” Garrett.

Man in the Mirror.

I’m gonna make a change, for once in my life.
It’s gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference,
Gonna make it right.
As I, turn up the collar on my favourite winter coat.
This wind is a blowin’ my mind.
I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat.
Who am I, to be blind pretending not to see their needs?
A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top and a one man’s soul.
They follow each other on the wind ya know,
‘Cause they got nowhere to go.
That’s why I want you to know,
I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways,
And no message could’ve been any clearer.
If they wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.
I’ve been a victim of a selfish kind of love.
It’s time that I realize there are some with no home,
Not a nickel to loan.
Could it be really me pretending that they’re not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart,
And a washed out dream.
They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see,
‘Cause they got no place to be,
That’s why I’m starting with me.
I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways,
And no message could’ve been any clearer.
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.
I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways,
And no message could’ve been any clearer,
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make that change.
I’m starting with the man in the mirror.
I’m asking him to change his ways.
No message could’ve been any clearer.
If you wanna make the world a better place.
Take a look at yourself and then make the change.
You can’t, then you close your, close your, your mind.
With the man in the mirror, oh yeah.
I’m asking him to change his ways.
No message could’ve been any clearer,
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change,
Gonna feel real good now I’m gonna make a change,
It’s gonna feel real good, come on change, just lift yourself.
You know, you’ve got to stop it yourself.
I’ve got to make that change today.
You got to, you got to not let yourself brother you know.
I’ve got to get that man, that man.
You’ve got to, you’ve got to move.
Come on, come on, you got to stand up, stand up.
Stand up, stand up and lift yourself, now.
Gonna make that change come on.
You know it, You know it, You know it.
You know Change. Make that change.
END

Death Of William Walshe, Formerly Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, yesterday, Friday 24th November 2023 of Mr William Walshe, (Former Psychiatric Nurse at St. Brendan’s Hospital, Grangegorman, Dublin), late of River Valley, Swords, Co. Dublin and formerly of Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his baby daughter Laura, his baby grandchild Parker, brother Fr. Michael and sister Ena; Mr Walshe passed away peacefully at his place of residence, surrounded by his loving family.

His passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife Lucy, children Mark, Fiona, Liam and Stephen, their partners, grandchildren Liam, Jack, Penny, Cora, Jess, Dan and Luke, sister Mary, brothers Pat, Donal and John, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Walshe will repose at Rock’s Funeral Home, North Street, Swords, Co. Dublin on Monday afternoon, November 27th, from 4:00pm until 6:00pm.
His remains will be received into the Church of St. Finian, River Valley Heights, Swords, on Tuesday morning, November 28th; leaving from his home to arriving for Requiem Mass 10:00am, followed by interment immediately afterwards in Swords graveyard, Chapel Lane, Swords Demesne, Swords, Co. Dublin.

For those persons who are unable to attend the funeral service for Mr Walshe, same can be viewed streamed live online, HERE.

The extended Walshe family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Note Please: No flowers. Donations in lieu, if desired, to St. Francis Hospice.


Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Thurles Gardaí Investigate Hit & Run Road Traffic Accident.

Gardaí in Thurles are investigating a ‘Hit and Run’ Road Traffic Accident, which happened in the vicinity of Bowe’s Corner, latter situated west of Thurles town, leading unto Friar Street, yesterday evening, (Friday November 24th 2023).

The accident which involved a pedestrian saw the vehicle involved, failing to remain at the scene of the accident.

Locals in the area quickly gave the victim, understood to be male, assistance having summoned a paramedic, who quickly attended at the scene.
The present condition/injuries sustained by the victim are understood to be non life threatening.

The recent upgrading of this area, back in late 2022, at a cost of 1/2 a million Euro made available, has given cause to much discontent with bus and heavy goods vehicles, who find it almost impossible to manoeuvre within the confined space currently allotted.

Thurles Gardaí are now anxious to speak to any person who may have witnessed the accident or who may hold dash-cam footage, to contact them immediately, in strictest confidence on Tel No: 0504 25100 or contact the Garda Confidential Line Free-phone 1800 666 111.