Food Programme - Watercress

Watercress has been dubbed a 'superfood' in the media following scientific research that suggests a link between the consumption of watercress and health. But is there anything special about it or is it a case of marketing hype? Sheila Dillon visits Vitacress Salads Ltd in Hampshire, which has for several years funded scientific research into the potential health benefits of watercress. Why did it do this? And how much did it spend? Much research into diet and health is funded by industry. What does the food industry get out of it? What does it say about the state of science research and how does it benefit us? Sheila interviews Prof Ian Rowland of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading and is joined in the studio by Prof Martin Wiseman, medical and scientific director of the World Cancer Research Fund.