As the author of the Marmite Cookbook, creator of Fudges Marmite biscuits and an all-round Marmite man I was devastated to discover my beloved healthy spread had fallen into the FSA's list of baddies. I was also staggered to find Marmite in the company of honey, raisins, cheese, Greek yoghurt and olive oil - all tarred with the same nonsensical brush.

Has the FSA completely lost the plot or has too much blue-sky thinking filled their heads? These are products I grew up with and ­encouraged my children eat. They are foods we all believe are good for us, and form part of a varied, healthy and nutritious diet with other foods. I don't think any ­nutritionist would disagree with that.

What they would disagree with is giving a child, or anyone else for that matter, 100g of Marmite and consider it a single portion when a mere 5g would satisfy a normal appetite. A 100g serving of ­Tomato Ketchup would obliterate any meal and 100g of cereal would mean munching your way through three-and-a-half bowls.

The Nutrient Profiling Model was supposed to be a simple formula for targeting food with a high sugar, salt and fat content. But, as well as ignoring the issue of portion sizes, it ­ignores nutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamins. It penalises healthy, ­nutritious products, while leaving out more debatable foods. Mixed messages that ­confuse children about what is good to eat must not be allowed to creep in now.

Marmite is an iconic brand. The production method for making Marmite hasn't changed much for more than a century. Brewer's yeast is broken down to release proteins and soluble amino acids, which are then concentrated and filtered. ­Vitamins, spices and ­vegetable ­extracts are added and the black gooey stuff is ready to enjoy.

Marmite is packed full with B vitamins, which have many benefits for the body. They help to regulate the kidneys, liver and nervous ­system as well as help skin ­disorders and boost energy. Marmite helped the UK win two world wars. It was included in ration packs for our soldiers as well as becoming a must-have in schools and hospitals throughout World War I.

It also became a dietary ­supplement in prisoner of war camps in World War II and was even requested by the British peacekeeping forces in Kosovo as a ­morale booster.

I spend a lot of my time extolling the virtue of breakfast and brunch. I visit schools, offices and health- clubs to promote the first meal of the day. I also encourage children to have something good for ­breakfast rather than stopping at the local shop for a sugar fix of chocolate and a fizzy drink. We make smoothies with fresh fruit, which is still on the good list. We use Greek ­yoghurt and honey, which have been thrown out. Sometimes we push the boat out and sprinkle muesli on top.

Should I say honey is bad for you, don't eat cereals or yoghurt and forget the Marmite? I don't think so. Having too many ­governing bodies telling me what I should and shouldn't eat is enough for me to be no more than flabbergasted.

But what scares me is the message we are giving our children in the all-important fight against obesity - that chicken nuggets, oven chips and ready meals, with little or no nutritional value, are OK after all. They were confused before - heaven help them now.



Paul Hartley is the author of the Marmite Cookbook and co-­founded www.breakfastandbrunch.com six years ago