Seven Sandwell food outlets have scooped awards for serving healthy choices – with one picking up the borough’s first Gold award.

Sandwell Council’s 'Eat Out Eat Well' awards recognise caterers who make it easier for their customers to make healthy choices when eating out.

The latest awards have seen five companies – including a national bakery chain, fish and chip shop, staff canteens and a hospital restaurant – pick up accolades from the council’s Environmental Health, Trading Standards and Public Health teams. Staff from each business were presented with their awards at a ceremony at West Bromwich Town Hall last week.
 
The awards went to facilities management company, Sodexo; Greggs branches at The Hawthorns and Union Street, Wednesbury; BMVJV – a joint venture between BAM Nuttall, Morgan Sindall and VolkerFitzpatrick; Hallam Restaurant at Sandwell General Hospital and Seavers Fish and Chips, Rowley Regis - the first takeaway to receive an award in Sandwell. Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for public health and protection Councillor Elaine Costigan said:

“We’re now in the second year of the Eat Out, Eat Well awards. They’re open to caterers, takeaways and other food retailers that meet the healthier eating criteria, have a good food hygiene rating and are compliant with food standards.

“The award aims to encourage food businesses to provide healthier options to customers, through the use of healthier catering practices, increasing fruit, vegetables and starchy carbohydrates and decreasing fat – especially saturated fat – sugar and salt.

“I’d like to congratulate all of the successful businesses who picked up awards last week – they’re doing their bit to make it easier for their customers to make healthy choices.”

For more information go to the Eat Out Eat Well website and, to nominate your favourite eatery that offers healthy choices, email food_businesscentre@sandwell.gov.uk.