MORE than 57 percent of families in the Balearics eat Majorcan sausage known as sobrasada regularly, confirmed a regional produce educational campaign in schools yesterday.
Surveys carried out by a department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries amongst the families of children who participated explored the degree to which food produced in the Balearics is eaten in the homes of local people. Of the 256 families interviewed, 147 had sobrasada as a feature of their diet.
Researchers also confirmed that 166 families (65 percent) habitually purchased and ate the ramillet tomato, mostly used for making pan amb oli - its juicy flesh is spread on home-made Majorcan bread before adding a drizzle of olive oil, salt and a topping of jamon serrano or cheese. The educational campaign wants to heighten the awareness of schoolchildren about the quality of locally-produced food through informal discussion groups and visits to factories. A spokesman for the ministry said yesterday that the programme, mostly implicating pupils of 12 years-old and upwards, their families and teaching staff is part of a wider healthy eating campaign which aims to see youngsters start life with healthy eating habits. Childhood obesity rates have soared in recent years.