News Release

Traders get to work on Healthy Catering Challenge

The results are in, and the 27 traders in Tewkesbury taking part in the Count Me In! Healthy Catering Challenge are now working with

a nutritionist to make their meals healthier.

 Listen to Star Radio interview

At the end of last year Gloucestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service signed up the traders to take part in the CMI challenge which saw their most popular dishes being analysed by nutritional experts. Public Analyst Liz Moran completed the analysis and nutritional expert Gemma Heiser is now working with the independent caterers to adapt the sampled meals to ensure they have reduced levels of fat, sugar and salt.

The selection of traders taking part demonstrated a real keenness to make their meals healthier, amongst these are: The Bay Tree (Church Street), Britannia Inn (High Street), Number One Sandwich Bar (High Street), Polly’s Pantry (Northway Lane) and Turkish Delight (Church Street).

At a national level there is concern regarding the levels of fat, salt and sugar in our diet, however small changes can make a big difference. The first set of results show that most of the 27 sampled meals contained low levels of sugars, however one contained nearly half of a woman’s Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) (90g). Fourteen of the 27 meals contained more than half of a woman’s GDA of fat (70g) and eight out of 27 contained more than half of a man’s GDA (95g). Thirteen out of the 27 meals contained more than half of an adult’s recommended daily salt intake (6g).

Maureen Gilhespy from Polly’s Pantry said: “We found our initial visit with Gemma Heiser and Trading Standards very useful and I am confident that we can make some worthwhile changes to a range of food we offer. Even though our initial results stacked up well, we will be considering a few options including incorporating some new lines and looking at the dressings we use to see whether improvements can be made.”

The Tewkesbury Healthy Catering Challenge is part of the Government-funded Count Me In! programme - which is designed to inspire Tewkesbury residents of all ages to take part in a series of themed activities focused on food and nutrition, the environment and physical activity. CMI is working Trading Standards on the project.

The consultation links with work being carried out nationally by the Food Standards Agency, which is working closely with the UK’s largest workplace caterers to encourage customers to make healthier choices when eating out.

Once this stage of the consultation is complete, Trading Standards Officers will revisit the participating caterers in a year’s time to evaluate how well the food has been received, if any further changes have been made, and to re-analyse the food’s nutritional content. 

Adrian Jevans, Gloucestershire Food Vision and Count Me In! board member, said: “It’s really exciting that these businesses are putting their commitment and enthusiasm behind this project. It is going to be a challenge, but there will certainly be long-term benefits for both the businesses and their customers in Tewkesbury.”

Eddie Coventry, Head of Gloucestershire Trading Standards, said: “We are delighted to be involved in this very extremely worthwhile survey to make Tewkesbury healthier. I am confident that with the expertise of Liz Moran the Public Analyst and nutritionist Gemma Heiser, we can really make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Tewkesbury residents.”

For more information please contact:

Steff Lewis-Sabey – Count Me In! PR Manager: (01242) 573311

See also:

Gemma Heiser is a freelance nutritionist and writer on food and nutrition. Go to goodfoodandhealth.co.uk.

Count Me In!

Gloucestershire Food Vision