SPC Care's Leadership in the Importance of Food Safety

COVID-19 and influenza rates continue to impact daily life and may linger for some time. Prioritising hygiene to minimise infections remains a concern for Australian consumers and one that will likely become the new norm in our post-COVID routines. During these uncertain times, consumers increasingly look for food security, reassurance, and trusted brands. It is now more important than ever for the food industry to be providing safe food choices by trusted brands which support both local agricultural and food production economies.

SPC is a proud Australian manufacturer of fruit and vegetables, based in the Goulburn Valley Region of Victoria. SPC Care, the nutrition health care division within SPC, aims to meet the unique and diverse nutritional needs of vulnerable individuals and the health care organisations, institutions and carers that look after them. With their two brands of SPC ProVital and Good Meal Co, SPC Care has established a leadership position in the provision of nutritious, innovative, and affordable food into the healthcare sector.

SPC’s manufacturing site in Shepparton, VIC and the Kuisine Company Manufacturing Facility in Emu Plains, NSW are regularly tested and audited against the most stringent food safety and environmental standards in the world. This includes Total Quality Management Systems which ensure traceability from farm to plate.

Good Meal Co

The Kuisine Company offer a variety of meals and snacks under the Good Meal Co brand that are used across major public hospitals as well as within residential and retirement aged care settings to assist vulnerable populations. The meals are available at home through the Good Meal Co online platform. There is plenty of choice when it comes to the meals as well as meeting key nutrient criteria required in both hospital and residential aged care facility settings. The ready-made meals are conveniently individually portioned, which is ideal for infection control and can be stored frozen until they are required making them convenient. There are a range of meals from traditional homestyle Roast Meal dishes as well as popular favourites like our Thai Green Curry or Butter Chicken. Special dietary needs like Gluten Free, Texture Modified, Vegan and Vegetarian are catered for as well as Halal meals.

SPC ProVital Portion-Control Fruit Cups

Combine the meals with handy snacks in the form of the SPC ProVital Diced, Pureed Fruit, 100% fruit juice cups. These portion-control cups have been specifically developed in collaboration with Arthritis Australia’s Accessible Design Division and aim to provide an accessible fruit snack including for those consumers with fine motor skill difficulties. This award-winning, innovative package design is easy to grip and provides an optimised seal to reduce opening force while guaranteeing food safety.

The use of individually sealed, portion-controlled fruit cups is ideal for infection control management as it reduces the risk of food handling-related infection. It also reduces waste associated with the use of bulk formats where you would have to individually portion out the serves. Food waste and sustainability in these uncertain times are other key considerations for all Australians. The SPC ProVital fruit cup has been recognised by the Australian Institute of Packaging as contributing to reduced food waste.¹

SPC ProVital Diced Fruit in Juice

The SPC ProVital diced fruit range is produced using state of the art ‘cold fill’ technology for gentler processing to lock in vibrant fruit colours, consistent texture, and fruit cuts. This results in a great-tasting snack based on the natural goodness of fruit.

SPC ProVital Fruit Puree

The SPC ProVital Level 4 Pureed range of delicious, nutritious, and expertly formulated fruit-based products, has been designed and rigorously tested to meet the strict guidelines of IDDSI Food and Drinks Classification for Level 4 Pureed foods. This type of texture modified diet may be recommended for individuals who have dysphagia. This is the difficulty of swallowing food and or drinking fluids. Dysphagia may occur for several reasons, including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease and dementia².

^{1. June 2016: SPC ProVital® easy-open cup won Food Service category in the Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP)/World Packaging Organisation (WPO) Save Food Packaging Awards. This new award recognises companies which are developing innovative and sustainable packaging that minimises food losses and food waste.}

^{2. Swallowing Fact Sheet. Speech Pathology Australia. Available @ www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au}

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