New catering accreditation launched in Scotland

Scottish consumers will be able to buy a wider range of healthy options when they eat away from home following the launch of a new catering accreditation.

Consumer Focus Scotland will present the Healthyliving award plus to food outlets which make at least 70% of their menus a Healthyliving choice – low in fat, sugar and salt.

The aim of the accreditation is to make it easier for Scots to buy healthy food when they eat out by encouraging food outlets of all sizes to offer a wider range of healthier options.

To qualify for the higher-level award, they will have to increase the proportion of healthy options on their menus and place a greater emphasis on the marketing and promotion of healthier food choices.

Shona Robison MSP, praising the introduction of the Healthyliving award plus, said: "We want to make it easier for people to make healthy choices and working with food outlets is helping to do just that. Through the Healthyliving award, many of Scotland's food and drink outlets have shown a clear commitment to offer healthy options – low in sugar, fat and salt – on shelves and menus."

More than 1200 organisations have already applied for the original Healthyliving award programme, more than one a day since the award's launch, and 251 of these received their awards at the Perth ceremony.

A wide range of catering outlets picked up the accreditation, including the Scottish Government, HM Prison Shotts in North Lanarkshire, and the Scott oil drilling platform operated by Nexen Inc. off the coast of Aberdeen.

The new award has already been achieved by four food outlets in Fife, Edinburgh and Ayr which participated in a three-month pilot programme prior to the official launch.

The award holders are catering services company:
Compass Group at RBS' Fettes Row site in Edinburgh
Almond Catering at Registers of Scotland in Edinburgh
Café Derran at the Auchterderran Centre in Cardenden
Ailsa Courtyard Restaurant at Ailsa Hospital in Ayr

For further information the Healthyliving award, including how to apply, please contact 0141 226 5261 or visit www.healthylivingaward.co.uk

Words: Clare Riley

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