Taste Test Free From Products & Morrisons Came To Visit our June Group

Morrison’s Community Champion Hayley came along to our June group to tell us about Morrison’s products, how they plan to increase their range and what products are already on offer.  We were able to sample some of their range, and 9 key products were available.   These 9 products can be found in all Morrison’s stores, which means Coeliacs and Free From Foodies can rely on their availability.  Also, Hayley mentioned their enormous range of frozen products, and their dedicated Free From aisle.
 
Here are some members’ comments on the free from foods we sampled:
 
Mrs Crimbles Macaroons

• Very tasty and lovely texture.  Be warned they do have a high sugar content. 
• Absolutely delicious, and not too sickly.
• Tastier than normal ones.  

Pretzels

• Very similar to normal Pretzels, watch the calories though.
• Very mourish, not too salty.
• Very crunchy and not over salted.
• 182 cals a bag, so watch out.

Chocolate Chip Brownies

• Delicious and a lovely treat.  Again, be careful how many you eat as they are high in sugar.
• Very indulgent and have very good texture.  Sweet as you would expect.
• Very sweet, good texture although slightly dry for me.
• Very nice and a great treat.

Morrison’s Free From Jam Tarts

• Very tasty and the pastry was not too crumbly, so they didn’t fall apart when you bite into

                them.  The jam filling had good flavours. 

• Tasty, pastry is light and just the right amount of jam.
• Good flavour and very tasty, but watch the calories, one is plenty.
• Packed in twos, dangerous as you will be tempted to eat them both!

 
Morrison’s Free From Plain Crackers

• No flavour but a good texture.  They didn’t crumble into oblivion when you bite into them. 
• Great to add toppings too.
• Crisp and not claggy while eating.
• Light, crisp and a good taste.

 
Morrison’s Free From Cranberry Bars

• Good to see a bar that is free from and not loaded with oats.  Lovely flavour and not too sweet either.
  
• Very tasty, a little dry.
  

 
Free From Pasta

• Cooked up lovely, and tasted very similar to normal pasta.  Great product.
• Great texture & holds its shape when cooked. 
• You can’t tell the difference.
• Nice texture.

 
Hayley explained that they will be providing free from pizza bases from their bakers in the future, which will be handled in a ‘safe’ environment to prevent cross contamination. 
We discussed how new products were launched.  Members high-lighted that it was rare that free from foodies went to the fresh breads or pizza section as generally they weren’t catered for.  So, when the pizza bases are launched it was vital that it was made clear at the other free from areas that new products were available somewhere else in the store!  If new ranges were not taken up by the public they would be deemed ‘not viable for that store’, so clear signage was essential. Hayley was happy to pass this comment on to her managers.
 
As a Nutritionist I feel that the Free From products are a useful introduction to free from eating and cooking.  They are handy to keep in the cupboard and do save time for busy households.  However, I do also strongly advise patients to cook from fresh, using the free from flours and other ingredients, in order to keep the high fats and sugars down, which are often added to free from ‘ready mades’ to give them flavour.
 
#Morrisons#FreeFrom#Coeliac#Nutritionist#Faversham

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