Health and Vitality

  • Sugar tax is “working”

    Sugar tax is “working”

    Sales of sugar-free drinks are up, whilst those with full sugar are in decline. What’s more, new sugar-free variants of popular drinks have gained distribution in major retailers. “The soft drinks industry levy is working,” wrote Jack Winkler and Tam… Read More

  • Stressed out hospitality workers wouldn’t recommend the sector

    Stressed out hospitality workers wouldn’t recommend the sector

    More than four out of five (84%) hospitality workers have reported increased stress, whilst 45% would not recommend working in the sector. The new research, “Service with(out) a smile”, published by the Royal Society for Public Health, also showed that… Read More

  • Healthy eating rules must apply to all, says Greggs boss

    Healthy eating rules must apply to all, says Greggs boss

    Small businesses should not be exempt from any new laws to tackle obesity, according to Roger Whiteside, chief executive at Greggs. “The temptation with regulation is to hit the big guys but we [Greggs] are less than 2% of the… Read More

  • Chefs need mental health support, survey finds

    Chefs need mental health support, survey finds

    More than eight in 10 people (81%) working in professional kitchens have experienced poor mental health during their careers, with 74% having called in sick due to stress. The survey of 102 chefs, conducted by Nestlé Professional, found that staff… Read More

  • Will small firms be exempt from calorie labelling rules?

    Will small firms be exempt from calorie labelling rules?

    Businesses with fewer than 250 staff will be exempt from new rules to list calories on menus. “It isn’t about telling people what to eat, it’s about helping them make their own choices,” a government source told The Sun. “There’s… Read More

  • Dishing up data on digital marketing

    Dishing up data on digital marketing

    Online marketing of unhealthy products needs to be tightened up, according to the World Health Organisation, but the UK food industry doesn’t agree. Children in Europe are still “regularly exposed to digital marketing of many unhealthy products”, including foods high… Read More

  • Government warned off “dangerous” allergen regulations

    Government warned off “dangerous” allergen regulations

    Better communication between businesses and customers is the most effective way to tackle allergen-related issues, said UKHospitality in its response to the government’s consultation on new regulations. Some of the options under consideration are “potentially dangerous” and impractical, the organisation… Read More

  • Tackling salt consumption outside the home

    Tackling salt consumption outside the home

    In an editorial for The BMJ published this month, and reproduced here in full, Dr Martin Caraher Professor of Food and Health Policy at City University, and Footprint Associate Editor Nick Hughes argue that tougher policies are required to make… Read More

  • Salt: tougher targets are on the way

    Salt: tougher targets are on the way

    The first salt reduction targets set for the out of home sector were “generous”, according to Public Health England. Should businesses prepare for lower limits and even regulation? Work on the salt content of food began in 2004. Since then… Read More

  • Meat-free messaging boosts Greggs’ sales

    Meat-free messaging boosts Greggs’ sales

    The publicity surrounding its new vegan-friendly sausage rolls helped Greggs register an “exceptional sales performance” in the first part of the year. In the seven weeks to February 16th, total sales increased 14.1%, whilst like-for-like sales. The period covers the… Read More