The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has responded today to the Public Health England (PHE) led programme on the reformulation of children's food with sugar reduced by 205..
Ufi Ibrahim, BHA's Chief Executive said it is forming an industry position on what is feasible and achievable for businesses. 'The BHA represents over 40,000 hospitality and food service management establishments across the country, and together with our members we have long been working to reduce calories, cut sugar and salt in products and provide healthy menu options.'
She continued, ''The announcement is a hard ask for much of the catering industry because, unlike retailers and manufacturers, menus and recipes come in all shapes and sizes. To assist our members the BHA is working to create a nutrition guide which will provide sensible and manageable ways to provide more healthy menu options.
'Our industry will continue to work closely with the Department of Health and support the Government in our shared ambition to reduce childhood obesity as long as the proposals are practical, workable and likely to be effective.'
Some of BHA members have already been taking steps towards providing healthy menu options:
CH&Co Group
The catering firm said offers the following: reduced fat mayonnaise, 1% fat milk, reduced sugar baked beans, tuna in water - not brine. Also there are under 500 calorie meals, the Love Me range of calorie-counted sandwiches, and its Healthiest Cakes Ever range.
The firm said, 'These options are all being part of creating an intrinsically healthier platform for its customers to both benefit without realising (in the case of mayo, baked beans and 1% fat milk) and through conscious choice to be healthier.'
Mitchells and Butlers (M&B)
The pub giant has signed up to a number of the Department of Health Responsibility Deals and has introduced a mineral salt which contains 15% less sodium than regular table salt.
M&B is working with suppliers for reduced sugar versions of our high selling sugar containing products.
It has created an internal Nutrition Framework for Children's Food and Drink. For example, it won't to serve fries as default option, portion size is limited, every meal must contain at least one portion of vegetables, and high salt products such as bacon and gammon are not allowed on the menu.
For adult portions, M&B offers healthy options and 'Less than 500 calorie sections'.