Scientists say a sprinkle of seaweed may make fast food healthier

• FAST food high in fat and calories could be made healthier by adding extracts from a form of seaweed common to the north-west coast of Scotland.
• According to scientists, the seaweed extract called alginate could be used to increase the fibre content of pies, burgers, cakes and other high-fat foods.
• A team from Newcastle University said this was an important breakthrough because it would allow people to continue eating junk food but enjoy the benefits of the traditionally more healthy alternatives.
• Studies have shown that eating high-fibre foods, such as brown bread and fruit and vegetables, can help reduce the incidence of life-threatening illnesses.
• It examines the properties of two brown-coloured seaweeds called lessonia and laminaria, which are found in the Outer Hebrides and Orkney, the Far East, South America and parts of Norway.
• "The problem is that a lot of people don't enjoy many of the foods that are high in fibre, like fruit and vegetables, yet to consume the recommended daily amount of fibre they would have to eat a lot of these types of foods.
• "With a burger, for example, you would simply remove some of the fat and replace it with the seaweed extract, which is an entirely natural product from a sustainable resource.
• You will not take the bad things out of pies by adding fibre."
• But Professor Pearson, who has already made loaves of bread containing the seaweed extract, which passed the taste test with colleagues, said: "Bread is probably the best vehicle to reach the general population because most people eat it.
• In February, figures from the Scottish Executive showed that the number of people in Scotland admitted to hospital because of obesity has failed to be arrested over seven years.