''3% fat. Chips - New health food''

A food manufacturer has claimed to have found the solution to New Year dieting woes - a "healthy" chip.

The frozen chip is the unlikely recipient of low scores for its levels of fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

McCain said its rustic oven chip is the first to score four "green lights" on a new healthy eating labelling scheme, championed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The innovation will come as good news to those who resolved to lose weight and eat more healthily in 2007.

Miranda Watson of consumer group Which? said: "Many people think chips as being unhealthy, but as McCain has shown that is not always the case.

"The traffic lights show this very clearly and having them will help consumers see very easily which chips are healthier than others.

"Having said that, we now want all manufacturers and retailers to put traffic lights on their packages because at the moment, with different labels, it is going to be difficult to compare."

McCain has invested £20 million in its products and packaging since launching an "it's all good" campaign for healthy eating in September last year.

:: To qualify for a green light, food must contain (per 100g): 3g or less of fat, 1.5g or less of saturated fat, 5g or less of sugar and 0.3g or less of salt.

Source; http://www.metro.co.uk