Healthy Options for Rhondda Cynon Taf Consumers
September 22, 2008
Businesses who believe they can cook up a healthy treat are being urged to prepare for a prestigious food standard.
Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has announced its support for the All Wales Healthy Options Award and is inviting local businesseswith a Welsh Food Hygiene Certificate to rise to the challenge.
The Healthy Options Award is a scheme that aims to provide tasty food that has been prepared in a healthy way using good food hygiene standards in a healthy environment.
Participants can secure a bronze, silver or gold awards and Rhondda Cynon Taf already boasts a selection of accredited venues.
Cllr Mike Forey, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Healthy Options was officially launched at the Big Bite festival in Ynysangharad Park, where we were lucky to obtain the views of residents and consumers on a number of food issues.
“A staggering 76 per cent of those questioned said they looked for healthier options when eating out and 90 per cent said they would like to see more healthy options.
“This shows there is a real market and demand for healthy, tasty food that has been prepared to the highest-possible standards.
“The aims of the Healthy Options scheme reflect the ethos of Environmental Health and Food Standards and we are really looking forward to receiving applications from across the county and celebrating with our businesses as they attain bronze, silver or even gold accreditation in this prestigious scheme.”
Julie Barratt, Director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which runs the Healthy Options Awards, added: “The All Wales Healthy Options Award is an important and useful mechanism for making selecting healthy foods an easier option.
“We all know it can be difficult to identify healthy food choices when faced with a wide selection of prepared food and how easy it is for people who want to eat healthily to be discouraged.
“Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Food Standards and Farm Enforcement Team are to be congratulated for taking this scheme forward in their county, which must be of benefit to residents and businesses alike.”
More information on the scheme can be obtained from www.cieh-cymruwales.org or to take part in the award contact Helen Walters on 01443 425777.
Businesses in RCT that already have Healthy Options Awards include:
Village Kitchen, Nantgarw (bronze)
Dine in Style, Pontyclun (bronze)
Just Because Coffee and Gift Shop, Pontyclun (bronze)
Esis, Nantgarw (bronze)
Qualtech, QED Centre, Treforest (bronze)
Learning Curve Coffee and Craft Shop, Talbot Green (silver)
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