Mayor of London announces healthy takeaway revolution
500 fast-food takeaways in the capital have signed up to an initiative that encourages them to sell healthier food, the Mayor of London announced.
The Mayor also revealed that JJ Food Service, one of the largest suppliers of food to takeaways, is now promoting the Healthier Catering Commitment to the 13,000 restaurants they count as customers. JJ will encourage them to buy healthier ingredients and cooking products, meaning a potentially huge change in the food that takeaways across London sell to their customers.
Recent research in Tower Hamlets revealed one fast-food takeaway selling a portion of chips totally 1865 calories, 93% of daily recommended intake, and 69g of fat. Their research showed that portion sizes are increasing as takeaways compete for custom.
Poor eating habits are widely regarded to be one of the main causes of obesity. Londoners living or working close to clusters of takeaway outlets are twice as likely to be obese and more likely to eat unhealthy food2 Over half of the adult population in London is either obese or overweight . In young Londoners, one in five is obese and one in three is either obese or overweight.3
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, said: “It is terrible that as a city, and indeed as a nation, we are getting fatter. Throughout my mayoralty I’ve invested in grassroots sports and food programmes to get Londoners healthier and fitter, but we still need to do more to tackle our expanding waistlines.
“Life in a busy city means that we inevitably enjoy fast food, whilst takeaway businesses make a great contribution to local economies and this scheme ensures takeaway food can be a healthier option.”
