Best Start fruit and veg offer

Best Start Foods clients can get free fruit and vegetables in Iceland and Tesco.

Customers who show their Best Start Foods card in Iceland stores can get a £1 bag of frozen vegetables when they make a minimum payment of £4.25.

In Tesco, Best Start Foods customers who present their card will receive £1 off their total shop when buying fresh or frozen fruit and vegetables.

At a time where a third of low-income families in the UK are struggling to afford fruit and vegetables, supermarkets are doing their bit to help communities they serve.

The prepaid Best Start Foods card replaced the UK Government’s healthy start vouchers in Scotland in August 2019 and can be used to buy First infant formula, fresh milk, fruit and vegetables, pulses and eggs.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government is committed to doing all it can to improve the health and wellbeing of children in Scotland and give them the best start in life. No child in Scotland should go without - our priority is ensuring low-income families can access healthy food for their young children.

“It is encouraging to see supermarkets running these kinds of initiatives. Feeding a growing family can be expensive - any extra help towards the cost of healthy food can make a real difference.

“I’m pleased that Iceland and Tesco have recognised how the Best Start Foods card can be a link in to helping some of the most vulnerable families in Scotland and would encourage Best Start Foods clients to take up these offers in store.

“I’d also ask anyone who thinks they might be eligible for Best Start Foods to find out more and apply. We want everyone to get all the money they are entitled to. The form is quick and easy to fill in so 10 minutes of your time could give you an extra £221 a year towards your food shop.”

The Best Start Foods provides low income families on certain benefits with £17.00 on a payment card every four weeks during pregnancy up until a child turns three. The payment doubles (to £34.00) in the first year of a child’s life.

To qualify for Tesco’s offer, a Best Start Foods card must be presented and used for a transaction where £1.00 or more is spent on fresh and/or frozen fruit and/or vegetables. This offer runs from this month and will be reviewed in February 2021.

Families encouraged to take up supermarket discounted fruit and veg offer

26 November 2020