Chipping away for a healthier borough

Takeaways across the borough have received three cheers from Rochdale Borough Council for serving healthier chips.  Their ‘Healthier Chips` campaign launched at the beginning of the year and encourages healthier frying practices by reducing the amount of saturated fat absorbed by chips.

Wendy Meston, Director of Public Health at the council, said the new scheme has been well received by takeaways and their customers:

“There are benefits for everyone involved… takeaways save money from new cooking practices and customers are getting higher quality, healthier food. This isn’t about stopping people from eating takeaway chips, it’s simply acknowledging that people are going to eat the chips but providing a healthier way of producing them.”

Some takeaways have also been offering free mushy peas so customers can benefit from one of their 5 a-day fruit and vegetable portions. All participating takeaways display posters or window stickers so customers know they're buying healthier chips.

Twelve of the 27 takeaways who have already signed up to the scheme attended a reception at Rochdale Town Hall to receive their certificates and were praised by the Mayor, Councillor Peter Rush:

“This scheme is a pioneering one, developed around the needs of Rochdale’s residents and takeaway owners. The result is already successful and I hope more retailers will get on board in the New Year. Over a quarter of all takeaways in the borough have already signed up which is a big achievement in a short space of time but there is still more we can do.”

To find out more about the scheme or to sign up, visit www.rochdale.gov.uk/healthierchips

·  A ‘healthier chip` is made with a reduced amount of saturated fat and the scheme promotes new ways of cooking that helps retailers serve healthier food and save money.

·  The award is in three tiers, ‘bronze, silver and gold’.