Healthier takeaways

Healthy takeaways project

The Public health nutrition team in Southwark is working with Environmental health officers to run a healthier catering commitments/healthy takeaways project in Southwark.

The project will work with 15 food businesses in the Peckham and Walworth areas. The Healthier Catering commitments was launched in April 2011 by the Mayor's office Greater London Assembly which all London Boroughs are being encouraged to roll out, it is a scheme where during a routine inspection environmental health officers can prompt food businesses to sign up to 8 criteria such as reducing salt content, offering smaller portions etc to make food healthier. An information letter, application form and an assessment form is given out at the time of the visit.

A top tips for takeaways card was developed by nutritionists to help promote the project the card highlights simple tips on making menus healthier in line with the healthier catering commitments.

Top tips for healthier menus

Nutritionists will then follow up with food businesses and offer one to one coaching. During follow up if the food businesses meet the healthier catering commitment criteria a reward sticker will be displayed in the window. Food business owners will be offered information on Health checks, stopping smoking, nutrition advice and information on the change 4 life campaign.

They will also be offered change 4 life material and info on local activities to display in the shop window. Work in local schools around the fast food saturation points is also taking place in the form of healthy eating workshops, fast food seminars and consultation to raise awareness of the project.

For more information contact sonia.sharma@southwarkpct.nhs.uk or contact Southwark Communications on 020 7525 7888.