SUGAR SMART Croydon launch inspires residents to take on healthy pledges

The day included activities for individuals and families revealing the hidden sugars in everyday food and drink favourites like cereals, fruit juice, bread, and granola & yogurt pots. Experts were on hand providing tips on how to be sugar savvy to achieve a healthier diet and to encourage the public to make personal SUGAR SMART pledges to better manage their sugar intake.

The launch was part of a New Year New You event, with other local health promotion organisations including Croydon’s Live Well advisors, JustBe Croydon, Crystal Palace for Life Foundation, Nuffield Health and Croydon Best Start.

Councillor Louisa Woodley, cabinet member for families, health and social care, and Councillor Tony Newman, Leader of Croydon Council, were also onhand to support the launch and speak with residents. Cllr Woodley said:

We are proud to be a SUGAR SMART borough, which is about encouraging residents to enjoy treats in a much healthier way. There is nothing wrong with having the occasional sweet treat and we know it can be hard to avoid sugar. However, the associated health issues with obesity and type 2 diabetes means our residents need to be aware of the risks of consuming too much sugar in food and drinks.

The SUGAR SMART Croydon campaign is led by Croydon Council, and is working with Croydon University Hospital, businesses, schools and early-years educators to help them to cut down the amount of sugary food and drink they promote or serve. The campaign will seek to place stickers on drinks vending machines around the borough with information about the sugar quantity in the items for sale.

SUGAR SMART is a campaign of Sustain and Jamie Oliver. It is the feature campaign of the Sustainable Food Cities network until mid-2018.