Haringey and Islington London boroughs sign up sugar declaration

The Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Food is a Sustain initiative aimed at reducing the amount of sugar consumed and promoting the consumption of healthier food in outlets under London council’s control.

 

The joint Haringey and Islington Health and Wellbeing Board committed to taking joint action on obesity and unhealthy food environments. Haringey and Islington face similar challenges with over 1 in 3 children aged 10-11 classed as overweight or obese, and more than half of all adults either overweight or obese. More than a fifth of children across the two boroughs start primary school overweight, and more than a third leave for secondary school overweight. The combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in 10-11 year olds across the two boroughs is 38%. Obesity is also a pressing health inequalities issue. In both boroughs, more deprived wards have higher rates of obesity, and obesity is highly correlated with deprivation. The need for action on obesity is well recognised and supported by our residents. 

 

Over the next year, the two councils will develop a policy on advertising, sponsorship and corporate partnerships; improve and promote access to free drinking water; develop a Food Standards Policy and reduce the sale of sugary drinks from council-owned or managed premises. They will also sign up to the Sugar Smart campaign, a campaign of Jamie Oliver and Sustain calling on organisations, workplaces and individuals to reduce the amount of sugar we all consume.