Update from London Borough of Lewisham

Lewisham’s Sugar Smart journey started in 2016 following a survey in which over 2,600 people responded. The survey asked about people’s views on the amount of sugar in food and drink and what actions should be taken to help reduce sugar in our environment.

Respondents were strongly in favour of measures such as supermarkets stopping price promotions on sugary drinks and snacks and reducing the availability of high sugar products in public places.

In October 2016 Lewisham became London’s first Sugar Smart borough to sign up to the national Sugar Smart campaign.

Sugar Smart Lewisham campaign asks organisations and businesses to raise awareness of the issues around consuming too much sugar and to create a food environment in which it is easier for residents to make healthier, less sugary choices.

Lewisham council has been a national pilot site for taking a whole systems approach to tackling obesity for the last three years. Our whole systems obesity action plan has been co-produced by a Lewisham Obesity Alliance of over 100 member individuals and organisations, and led by a delivery group that includes Executive Directors of the Council and CCG, the Director of Public Health and cabinet members for health and children and young people.  The action plan aims to address all the key causal drivers of obesity from breastfeeding through to accessible healthy food, transport, planning, and public sector settings.The Alliances initial focus has been on three key actions, of which one is Sugar Smart.

Since launching our campaign, 118 businesses and organisations have pledged to support the campaign locally with a total of 291 action pledges! Our main school caterer (has removed 6 tonnes of sugar from school meals), childminders, primary and secondary schools, Lewisham Hospital, Dentists, Pharmacies, our main leisure providers, Goldsmiths University and Millwall football club are just some examples of the organisations involved. Find out which organisations have already signed up.

In November 2017 the second phase of the Sugar Smart Lewisham campaign was launched. This phase asked residents to pledge their support to enable us to lobby Government to change laws around sugar advertising and promotion. We want to see:

• TV adverts for high-sugar products aimed at children banned before 9pm

• fewer 2-for-1 and other price promotions on high-sugar products in shops, restaurants, cafés and takeaways

Visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/sugarsmart for more information.