Ketchup as a vegetable a bill that barred the USDA from changing its nutritional guidelines for school lunches. The proposed changes would have limited the amount of potatoes allowed in lunches, required more green vegetables, and declared a half-cup of tomato paste to count as a serving of vegetables, rather than the current standard of 2 tablespoons. The blocking of these proposed higher standards meant that the smaller amount of tomato paste in pizza could continue to be counted as a vegetable in school lunches. The move resulted in widespread mockery, with headlines saying Congress had declared pizza to be a vegetable. The blocking
Vital ingredient being a record year for both sales and profit. In 2011 Vital Ingredient secured £2.75 million in funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial’s Breakthrough programme. The company's annual turnover has since doubled to £12 million. In April 2016 the chain underwent a £12m management buyout led by Alex Heynes, which was backed by private equity house LDC. The chain also secured £4 million in growth capital from Santander as they look to grow to over 40 stores Vital Ingredient primarily markets its own range of tossed salads and soups made on site. Juices, smoothies and hot breakfasts are also included