Lewisham launches people-powered SUGAR SMART Social Movement

The event, held at Goldsmiths, University of London, celebrated the achevements of businesses and organisations already taking part in the SUGAR SMART Lewisham campaign, and outlined plans to support local residents to recruit other businesses to join and take action to reduce the prevalence of sugary food and drink across the borough.

The launch of the new 'Social Movement' was supported by Lewisham Council’s Director of Public Health, Dr Danny Ruta and Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, who called on residents to lobby local organisations and businesses to join the campaign. Sir Steve stated:

This campaign is not just about education, it's about improving our food environments too. We want everyone to put pressure on people who provide food to make a difference.

Danny Ruta added:

[In Lewisham] over 22% of our children are overweight or obese. By year 6, this figure increases to 39%. This obesity epidemic is a normal response of people to an abnormal environment. People haven’t become greedier or lazier: the food available to us has changed. And one of the biggest changes has been the amount of sugar that surrounds us.

Goldsmiths and their catering provider Chartwells, together with Goldsmiths Students’ Union all pledged actions as part of the SUGAR SMART Lewisham campaign, including: making free tap water available; displaying info on the sugar content of popular fizzy drinks; and providing more healthy food and drink options. Over 75 businesses and organisations have so far joined Lewisham's campaign and are taking action to reduce overconsumption of sugar. 

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