Essex potato grower Allan Stevenson (left) and BPC’s Ben Worth, were amongst those taking the healthy potato message direct to MPs during the ‘protests’

Essex potato grower Allan Stevenson (left) and BPC’s Ben Worth, were amongst those taking the healthy potato message direct to MPs during the ‘protests’

Protestors have asked for the term Couch Potato to be removed from the Oxford English Dictionary by petitioning the dictionary’s authors the Oxford University Press as part of the The British Potato Council ’s 2005 Health campaign.

The BPC and representatives from Britain’s potato industry complained about the "misleading term".

BPC marketing manager Kathryn Race said Couch Potato should be scrubbed from the dictionary and ultimately everyday conversation. “It is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as; ‘A person who takes little or no exercise and watches a lot of television’. This is a derogatory phrase that misrepresents potatoes, a low fat energy source and an excellent source of vitamin C, all essential for a healthy diet,” she added.

The potato industry’s campaign received widespread national coverage which, said Race, continues to keep potatoes in the public eye and reminds consumers about the serious health benefits from eating potatoes.

MPs were also lobbied at Parliament Square after the BPC’s approach received backing from top nutritionists and renowned chefs. Among them, chef Antony Worrall Thompson said: “Potatoes are one of the UK’s favourite foods. Not only are they healthy, they are versatile, convenient and taste great too. Life without potato is like a sandwich without a filling. I am more than happy to get involved and bring goodness back into the word potato.”

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