Healthier Catering Commitment

What is it?

The Healthier Catering Commitment (HCC) for London was launched in March 2012.  It is a voluntary scheme for food businesses developed by the Association of London Environmental Health Managers and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

The Good Food in Greenwich network supports development of a local healthy and sustainable food environment and the HCC scheme comes under this initiative.

In the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the Council’s Environmental Health Department works in partnership with Public Health and the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency(GCDA) to deliver the scheme.

The scheme is designed to support fast food or café businesses to help them make simple and affordable changes to the food they sell to make it healthier for you.

There is link between what we eat and our health

• Too much salt in our diet can cause high blood pressure, which increases risk of

heart disease and stroke.

• Too much fat and sugar in the diet increases risk of being overweight, which

increases risk of diabetes and heart disease.

• Fruit and vegetables help protect against heart disease and cancer.
• Too many sugary foods also increases the risk of tooth decay

 

People are increasingly eating outside of the home.  In surveys, people say:

• They want healthier choices on the menu when they are eating outside the home
• It is the responsibility of the caterer to provide healthier choice
• They want to see more grilled and vegetarian options on the menu

 

When a food business signs up to the HCC scheme, it commits to improving the food they sell by making small changes, such as:

• changing the oil they cook with to healthier alternatives
• heating oil to correct temperature and regularly replacing used cooking oil with fresh cooking oil. This can help chips and other fried foods soak up less fat during the cooking process
• offering some healthy options (for example, lower sugar drinks and snacks); and
• making smaller portions available on request.

 

GCDA delivers the HCC scheme across Greenwich and andassesses businesses interested in taking part in this scheme and to help them  achieve  the free HCC award

 

How can I tell which fast food business is participating on this scheme?

Food businesses who adopt the scheme display the Healthier Catering Commitment logo on their business windows, doors or walls.  So look out for this sign when you are next visiting a fast food outlet or café in your area

 Signing-up to HCC

Businesses with a 3, 4 or 5 Food Hygiene Rating Score ,wishing to join the HCC scheme, are assessed and given advice on how to meet at least 8 qualifying criteria.

 

Where should I go to find out more about the Healthier Catering Commitment scheme?

If you are an eligible fast food or café  business or a local resident  in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and are interested in finding out more about the HCC scheme  then contact GCDA  on 0208 269 4880 and speak to Livia.