Turkey Twizzlers set to make a comeback with double the amount of meat compared to original

    The Turkey Twizzler is making a return - 15 years after TV Chef Jamie Oliver was instrumental in their demise when he called them bad for children's health.

    The manufacturer, Bernard Matthews, has said that the "healthier and tastier" recipe will contain double the amount of turkey meat.

    In 2005, Turkey Twizzlers were banned from school menus and discontinued during a wave of negative publicity following the programme, Jamie's School Dinners, which triggered a national debate about the quality of food for children.

    But despite concerns the product "remains ultra-processed", Bernard Matthews claims it has been "missed" by families and is "much-improved", containing 67%-70% turkey meat. 

    When it was last on school menus, it contained 34% turkey along with a range of additives and flavourings.

    The company's marketing director David Leigh said the old Turkey Twizzler had 137 kcal, while the new version had 87 kcal.

    This relaunch of the product follows a petition in 2018 whereby 28,000 people signed a petition to bring Turkey Twizzlers back. Nutritionist Dr Sarah Schenker said: "Turkey Twizzlers have listened to the public and completely transformed themselves into a much-improved product.

    "They now have a nutritional profile they can be confident in. High in good quality protein and lower in fat, saturates, salt and sugar."

    But campaigners for healthy food remain unconvinced by the quality of the product.

    Barbara Crowther of the Children's Food Campaign told The Guardian: "The fact it's taken Bernard Matthews 15 years to reformulate the Turkey Twizzler shows what a truly terrible product it used to be.

    "Doubling the turkey content still only takes it to 67-70% meat content, and while it's a healthier version of its former self, it remains an ultra-processed product."

    Bernard Matthews said Turkey Twizzlers will be available in two flavours, Original Tangy Tomato and Chilli Cheese, at Iceland stores from Thursday.

    Content: Sky News

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