Lewisham Council and Millwall FC go Sugar Smart
Two London bodies, Lewisham Council and Millwall FC, have joined forces and become the first London Borough and first football club to go Sugar Smart, commiting to measures to reduce sugar.
Councillor Chris Best said: “Becoming a Sugar Smart borough signals our intention to get to grips with an issue that threatens to cut people’s lives short. In Lewisham we know that we need a new approach to tackle this epidemic which is why we have taken this bold step.”
In Lewisham, one in every four children is obese by the time they reach Year 6. The council is determined to tackle this higher than national average level of obesity.
Chartwells, a major catering firm who supplies many Lewisham schools, will be producing healthier school meals and reducing the sugar content in their popular deserts. Meanwhile, Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust has pledged to provide more healthy food and drinks options, and to encourage the Trust’s retail partners to work towards healthier standards for staff, visitors and patients. Student councils in Lewisham are also working towards making changes in local schools.
Meanwhile, Millwall Football Club has agreed to introduce a sugar tax of 10p across the stadium, and in all their catering outlets. Proceeds will go to the Millwall Community Trust to develop a food, exercise and healthy lifestyle programme for kids.
“We are proud to be at the forefront of this campaign which will hopefully encourage our supporters, and the people who use our facilities, to think seriously about their health, and the amount of sugar in their food and drink,” said Veronica Quinn, Millwall’s Head of Catering, Conferences and Events.
What is Sugar Smart?
The Sugar Smart campaign recognises that we are bombarded by sugary temptations throughout our day. The campaign increases awareness of (and works to reduce) sugar consumption across all age groups and communities, in the UK. Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation and Sustain are joining forces to help places around the UK to tackle sugar at the local level and to go Sugar Smart.
While recognising the importance of individuals’ efforts in reducing sugar consumption, the campaign wants to change the environment around us. Soft drinks are the largest source of sugar consumption for UK school-aged children and teenagers, and the average British child is currently set to eat their own body weight in sugar, every year, by the time they reach five years old.
Jamie Oliver commented; “It’s brilliant that Lewisham and Millwall have joined us and are launching their own Sugar Smart campaign. Trailblazing and becoming the first London Borough and Football Club to go Sugar Smart! They’ll be joining us in raising awareness about the long-term damage that too much sugar can have on our health, and empowering us all to reduce it in our diets.”
Jamie Oliver commented; “It’s brilliant that Lewisham and Millwall have joined us and are launching their own Sugar Smart campaign. Trailblazing and becoming the first London Borough and Football Club to go Sugar Smart! They’ll be joining us in raising awareness about the long-term damage that too much sugar can have on our health, and empowering us all to reduce it in our diets.”
Ben Reynolds, Sustain, said: “We’re really looking forward to see what difference Lewisham are able to make, and how we can help all the other parts of the country who want to do something similar learn from their experiences. I also applaud Millwall’s commitment to the sugary drinks levy,and we would encourage others to follow suit, by implementing a similar levy and working with the Children’s Health Fund which we set up with Jamie Oilver to distribute the money raised to good causes.”
Published Friday 21 October 2016
Sugar Smart UK: Want your local area to become Sugar Smart?
