News - Healthy business, healthy borough, healthy you!

When it comes to helping Wigan become a healthier place, the borough’s business community is leading the way.

And to prove it a group of local firms are about to become the first ever to be recognised for taking steps to look after their staff and customers by receiving Healthy Business Awards.

The new award scheme is a new initiative aimed at promoting healthy choices when it comes to levels of salt, sugar and fat in food.

The project, which is being jointly run by Wigan Council and NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan is intended to help tackle some of the health problems facing the borough, such as obesity, which are related to poor diet.

On Tuesday April 28, 20 food-related and catering businesses from across the borough, who have worked with the team to develop the project, will become the first to receive it.

Wigan Council’s Cabinet Champion for Healthy Communities, Cllr Keith Cunliffe who will help to present the awards, says:

“The launch will celebrate the fact that we have create an award that gives the people of the borough more choice and more opportunity to eat out and but stay healthy.

“It also celebrates the success of some of our businesses in offering interesting delicious healthier options as part of their menus.”

Research carried out over last summer in Wigan has suggested that many people in the borough want more information about the levels of fat, salt and sugar they take in when they are eating away from home.

The businesses that have taken part in the award include restaurants, cafes, a chip shop, buffet and workplace catering providers, hospitals and colleges.

All have shown they are committed to producing meals that are lower in salt, sugar and fat and higher in nutrients.

The have also shown they are committed to maintaining good standards of food hygiene and health and safety. Wigan’s Director of Public Health Dr Kate Ardern, who will help present the awards, says:

"It’s no secret that diet-related ill-health cause both problems for people all over the country and much of this can be prevented.

“In the Wigan area more than 4,000 people are overweight to such a degree that it may seriously damage their health.

“Yet research has shown that big health gains can be made by small adjustments to choices of food we eat and how it is prepared and thanks to the businesses taking in the awards’ scheme it has just become easier for people to do this.

“We’d like to thank and congratulate all the award winners and hope that there will soon be many more!”