Knockbracken Healthcare Park Achieves Calorie Wise Gold Award
January 24, 2020
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, which includes Knocbracken Healthcare Park based in the Lisburn Castlereagh area has been recognised with a Calorie Wise Gold Award for displaying calorie information on all menu items in restaurants across five of its hospital sites.
Calorie Wise is a scheme developed by the Food Standards Agency and district councils in Northern Ireland. It encourages food businesses to display calorie information on their menus enabling customers to make informed food choices when eating out and on the go.
The innovative scheme hopes to meet the growing demand for calorie labelling which can positively affect food and drink choices and calories consumed.
Speaking at a Calorie Wise celebration event, Dr McBride, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Obesity is one of the most important public health challenges facing Northern Ireland. I welcome the positive action taken by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, FSA and district councils to help address obesity by supporting people to live healthier lives.”
Commenting on the award, Cathy Jack, CEO of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said: “We are delighted to have achieved the Calorie Wise Gold award across five hospital sites. We want to ensure our staff, patients and visitors have the information they need to make healthy and thoughtful food choices. We are already seeing positive changes in the eating habits of our clients.”
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council Calorie Wise Champion, Maeve Carey added: “Calorie Wise is a very beneficial scheme to give people the ability to make an informed decision about what they choose to eat or what they order for their loved ones. It is great to see the public sector coming on board with the scheme and our local Knockbracken Healthcare Park will join our Calorie Wise register, which contains many local eateries. We look forward to more organisations in the Lisburn Castlereagh area taking the wise move to displaying calories.”
Welcoming the Belfast Trust’s achievement, Maria Jennings, Director of Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, said: “Displaying calorie information empowers customers to make informed choices and encourage healthy eating. We encourage all catering businesses, to work with their local council and the FSA, to implement Calorie Wise in their restaurants, canteens and cafes across Northern Ireland.”
For more information on the scheme and how to participate, visit www.food.gov.uk/CalorieWise