Agenda item - EAT OUT EAT WELL HEALTHY EATING AWARD

Agenda item

EAT OUT EAT WELL HEALTHY EATING AWARD

Report by the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the delivery of the award.

Minutes:

Report by the Executive Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) set out information regarding Eat Out Eat Well, a healthy eating award that Public Health and Protection were introducing with compliant food businesses to promote healthier food choices.  The report also provided further information about the delivery of the award and notification that Herts County Council were now promoting the award as the scheme of choice across Hertfordshire.

 

Members received a presentation on the Eat Out Eat Well Healthy Eating Award from Officers.

 

In response to questions from Members, Officers advised as follows.

 

        Funding had been received for promoting the award, which would be resourced in-house

        It was a volunteer scheme for businesses to sign up to.  It was anticipated that it would take some time to develop and roll out.  There were a number of different levels to the award for businesses to achieve. 

        The scheme had been successful in Surrey and research was ongoing to ascertain the impact on the residents and businesses.

        The number of businesses signed up to the scheme would be one way to measure its success.

        Obesity was a very complex subject and a direct comparison between different local authorities using the scheme would be difficult.

        The aim of the scheme was to assist residents when they ate out to make an informed choice.

        Hertfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire Trading Standards had met to discuss the promotion of the scheme. 

        Hertfordshire County Council were supporting the scheme.  Links with schools were being developed.  Discussions had been held with the contractors of school meals across Hertfordshire. 

        Hertfordshire County Council had undertaken work with children and families regarding their perception of normal, this work included parents.  Portion sizes and the mix of food groups would be discussed with the children and families. 

        Appropriate portion sizes for children would also be looked at, together with a healthy balanced plate and changes to some ingredients would be part of the assessment for the level of award.

        Training would be provided for those businesses who did sign up to the scheme, with staff giving prompts regarding appropriate portion sizes and achieving a healthy balance.

 

In summary Members welcomed the Eat Out Eat Well award initiative, the involvement of local businesses, raising awareness of food choices to families and the involvement of schools.  They were pleased to see that the level and effect of obesity was being looked into. 

 

Members recognised that both obesity and the effect of the scheme was difficult to evaluate.  However information needed to be available in the public domain to allow residents opportunities to make informed choices.  The scheme was not a measure to reduce obesity as it was too complex a problem but a report on the evaluation of the impact and the benefits of the scheme would be welcomed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)     That the content of the report on the Eat Out Eat Well be noted.

(2)     That the Council continued to support the delivery of the award.

(3)     That a report providing and evaluation of the scheme be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

Supporting documents: