Last updated 19:49, Thursday, 04 September 2008

THIS WEEK I have been looking closely at food labelling.

It came about because, when I was heating up some soup for lunch, I noticed the legend ‘serving suggestion’ on the label, below a picture of said soup (roast tomato and parmesan) in a bowl.

As far as I know, there are only two ways of serving soup – either in a bowl, in which case you eat it with a spoon, or in a cup, in which case you drink it.

It is hardly likely that you would pour it on a plate and eat it with potatoes, or serve it in a sundae glass with a scattering of hundreds and thousands.

Of course, if you feel inclined to do this there’s nothing to stop you, but most of us know what to do with a can of soup without a helpful suggestion on the label.

Close inspection of packaging in the supermarket revealed even more astounding ways to serve everyday foods: ham, sliced and put on a plate with a tasteful lettuce garnish; bolognese sauce, poured over spaghetti, and fish fingers served with chips and peas.

I never would have thought of that.

But from now on I’m going to be able to think up loads of serving suggestions of my own because, by the time you read this, my novelty gorilla pen holder will have gone from my desk, my not-so-secret liquorice stash will have vanished and I will be enjoying the first day of retirement.

It is time for a change; so I will hopefully be pottering around in my new polytunnel; working my way through one of my many cookery books or looking after granddaughter Evie, the one-baby demolition squad.

And believe me, after a few hours of guarding this 10-month-old whirlwind, I need a rest.