North-east convenience stores trial healthy eating drive |
| Friday, 14 November 2008 | |||||
 Convenience stores in the north-east area of the UK are to be the first to trial a scheme that will encourage people to eat more healthily, it has been announced today. Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said £800,000 will be handed out by the government in the coming few years so shops in this region promote fruit and vegetables. The Department of Health is to assign a project coordinator to work alongside each of the participating stores, who will display fruit and veg in prominent locations. These coordinators will offer advice and promote healthy food in the local community. Just this week, European Union rules that stipulate oddly-sized fruit and vegetables cannot be sold in the UK were scrapped by the European Commission. Speaking about the new scheme, Primarolo said: "We all need to aim to eat five portions of fruit and veg a day. But we know that can be a tall order - particularly if you live in an area where shops don't sell fresh fruit and veg. "Our aim is to help up to 120 local shops in the north-east to sell good fresh produce. With this scheme everyone's a winner - people living nearby will be able to buy fresh fruit and veg and shop keepers should see their profits soar." The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has been working with the Department of Health to secure retailers such as Spar and Costcutter in the area. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "Convenience stores trade at the heart of communities throughout the country and ensuring there is a strong selection of healthy, fresh produce on offer is an important step forward in tackling obesity." Related Articles
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no1dave
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... i think stores need to do more to promote healthy eating in their stores, not keep pushing crisps and chocalte bars and bottles of coke |
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