Which? welcomes pub chain support for FSA healthy eating scheme

Consumer rights group Which? has welcomed the move by six of the UK’s largest pub chains to join the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) drive to improve healthy eating outside the home.

It was announced yesterday that JD Wetherspoon, Greene King, Marston’s, Mitchells & Butlers, Spirit Group and Whitbread – which serve more than 1 million meals a day between them – have joined the UK’s leading contract caterers and fast-food chains in joining the initiative.

The pub chains have made an ongoing commitment to support the Agency's efforts to reduce salt and saturated fat intakes, and wider Government work to tackle obesity by helping people to eat a balanced diet.

Sue Davies, chief policy adviser at Which?, backed the move, stressing that providing more choice was key to addressing rising obesity levels in the UK.

“If we are to call time on rising it has to be easier for people to make healthy choices,” she said. “Good intentions should not have to be compromised as soon as you leave your home, nor should ‘pub grub’ simply be accepted as an unhealthy choice.”

Davies called on other operators to join the pubs, caterers and fast food chains in making healthy eating commitments.

“Consumers don’t need to be spoon-fed, but if there’s clear nutritional information and ample choice available, it will be a lot easier to eat healthily,” she said.

The FSA is working with the UK’s largest family restaurant and coffee shop chains to develop similar commitments, details of which will be announced later this year.

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By Daniel Thomas

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