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Food SafetyHealthyliving AwardThe Healthyliving Award is a national award for the food service and catering sector in Scotland. Funded by the Scottish Executive, the Healthyliving Award was launched to industry in August 2006 and builds on the experience of the Scottish Healthy Choices Award. It was established to make it easier for people eating out to know where to go for healthier food, and to encourage the food service industry to provide healthier food on their menus. It is open to all workplaces, NHS outlets, further education establishments, family restaurants, sandwich shops and places where people eat regularly across Scotland *. To achieve a Healthyliving Award applicants must make broad changes to the way food is prepared, for example, using healthier ingredients and cooking methods, provide and promote healthier menu choices and have an appropriate sales promotion and marketing strategy, which works alongside the general principals of the award. The new award uses the recognisable apple symbol within the logo, which is displayed on menus and in the premises of food outlets that have been successful in achieving the national accolade. Health Minister Andy Kerr launched the award to consumers on October 2nd at Glasgow Metropolitan College and presented awards to the first six eating establishments to successfully achieve the accreditation in Scotland. To find out more about the Healthyliving Award, including information on the first six award winners visit the Healthyliving Award website.
*with the exception of schools and hospital patient food. Further Information Scotland’s food establishments could do more to provide healthier choices to people eating out, a national survey of more than 500 people across Scotland’s cities revealed 81% agreed food establishments could do more to serve up healthier options. The survey, commissioned by the Scottish Consumer Council, found that 94% agreed it was important healthier choices were available to people who eat out and 88% agreed that healthy options can be made to taste as good as less healthy fare. More than half (59%) were more likely to purchase from a food outlet if it had achieved an award for providing healthier options. Of those asked, 42% said they would buy food from an eating establishment more often if healthier choices were available and three quarters (75%) agreed they would find it helpful if some form of logo was used on a menu or displayed in premises to indicate healthier food choices. The poll revealed 69% were more aware of the need to choose healthy options than they were a year ago. They were more likely to buy food regularly from a cafe, sandwich shop, or eat out at a restaurant, pub or hotel. The survey also found that nearly one in two Scots polled (45%) have wanted to choose something healthy to eat and have not found anything suitable on the menu. For more information visit http://www.healthylivingaward.co.uk
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