Lambeth and Tower Hamlets Councils sign the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Food, promoted by Sustain.
The declaration aims to reduce the amount of sugar consumed and promote the consumption of healthier food in outlets under the council’s control. Lambeth and Tower Hamlets committed to taking action across six key areas: advertising and sponsorship, improving food provided in settings controlled by the Council, delivering healthier public events, reducing prominence of sugary drinks and promoting free drinking water, and raising public awareness of the benefits of healthier eating.
Alongside being a Food Flagship Borough and a member of Sustainable Food Cities, the declaration commits Lambeth Council to take further action to promote a healthy lifestyle. Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group are co-signatories to the declaration underpinning the commitment of the NHS to work in partnership to tackle obesity in the borough. The Council pledges, for example, to restrict unhealthy advertising, promote the uptake of Healthy Start Vouchers starting at Brixton market, have healthier food and drinks at Council events, promote a voluntary sugary drinks levy to local businesses and continue the ‘Feel 100%’ social media campaign targeting local young people.
Tower Hamlets has some of the highest rates of tooth decay and child obesity in the country. Tower Hamlets Council pledges to tackle advertising and sponsorship, bringing in a voluntary sugary drinks levy on sales at council-run canteens and offering healthy choices at public events, alongside healthy food in schools being further encouraged. More and more stall-holders selling fresh produce in East End markets like Whitechapel and Poplar’s Chrisp Street have been signing up to the council’s ‘food for health’ award scheme launched two years ago and the Council pledges to continue to increase this number.
For more details on the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Food initiative visit: https://www.sustainweb.org/londonfoodlink/declaration/
Published Tuesday 2 May 2017
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
