In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through the culinary world, Jamie Oliver has confessed that his own version of Turkey Twizzlers – created during his legendary war on junk food in schools – was still fundamentally unhealthy.
The celebrity chef, who successfully campaigned to have Bernard Matthews' original Twizzlers banned from school canteens in 2005, has admitted that his homemade alternative failed to solve the core problem: it remained highly processed.
The School Food Revolution That Changed Everything
Oliver's groundbreaking 2005 television series, Jamie's School Dinners, sparked a national conversation about childhood nutrition. His campaign led directly to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair implementing sweeping changes to school food standards across England.
The removal of the original Turkey Twizzlers became the symbolic victory of this movement. However, Oliver has now revealed that the replacement recipe he developed shared concerning similarities with the product he sought to eliminate.
What Makes a Food 'Ultra-Processed'?
Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast with Steven Bartlett, Oliver explained the harsh truth about his alternative. Despite using better quality turkey, his version still required significant processing to achieve that familiar spiral shape and texture.
'The thing about a Twizzler is it's an extruded product,' Oliver stated. 'To get that twist, it has to go through a machine, it has to be blitzed and puréed and all the rest of it.'
This manufacturing process, essential for creating the distinctive spiral, meant the product still fell into the category of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) – now understood by nutritionists to have various health implications.
A More Honest Approach to Food Education
Oliver's surprising confession forms part of his updated approach to food education. Rather than simply creating 'healthier' versions of processed foods, he now advocates for teaching children to appreciate whole, recognisable ingredients.
The chef emphasised the importance of transparency about how food is actually produced, suggesting that if children understood the manufacturing behind products like Turkey Twizzlers, they might think differently about consuming them.
This reflects growing public awareness about UPFs and their potential effects on health, moving beyond simpler distinctions between 'good' and 'bad' foods to a more nuanced understanding of food processing.
