Everyone Active goes SUGAR SMART with a big sugar reduction pledge

The national leisure centre operator made its announcement at Plymouth Life Centre on Wednesday 20th September. It was joined by representatives from a number of organisations who already support the SUGAR SMART campaign locally, including Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Argyle (with team players Ryan Taylor and Oscar Threlkeld in attendance), Food Plymouth and Livewell South West.

The event also saw the launch of Food Plymouth's SUGAR SMART Plymouth campaign, which is working with universities, sports & leisure, the Council and health & social care services to improve the local food environment and support Plymouth residents to make healthier food choices.

Everyone Active is working with suppliers to replace high-sugar products and with low-sugar alternatives in all of its Sugar Smart centres. It has also introduced a ‘traffic light’ system to drive customers towards healthier options by grading products in line with their sugar content.

Andy Coupé, Everyone Active’s group food and beverage manager, said: “It is brilliant to have launched our national pledge here in Plymouth. Any organisation that offers food options to the community has an obligation to provide healthier alternatives. Our involvement in the SUGAR SMART campaign is all about giving people a choice and helping them to understand the small changes they can make that have a big impact on their overall health and wellbeing.”

Councillor Lynda Bowyer, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care for Plymouth City Council, said: "We are looking forward to working with both Everyone Active and Food Plymouth CIC to take this important project forward.

"Improving people's diets and tackling obesity are key priorities under our Thrive Plymouth health improvement programme and Sugar Smart will play a key role in helping us to achieve these aims."

SUGAR SMART is run by Sustain and Jamie Oliver, and is the feature campaign of the UK’s Sustainble Food Cities network until mid-2018.