HERE'S a turn-up. Nestl Rowntree, purveyor of sugary snacks to eager children for more than 140 years, may soon be producing dental care lozenges.

Perhaps Nestl consider this a chance to redeem long-in-the-tooth decay.

Could this be a new trend: the corporate conscience?

We wonder whether other businesses will follow suit.

Soon we could see John Smith's brewing fruit juice smoothies, the Malton bacon factory diversifying into tofu and Mr Kipling's range of exceedingly healthy mixed salads.

Updated: 11:35 Friday, December 12, 2003