A SUGAR awareness campaign has been launched in Middlesbrough following the revelation that the average person eats the “weight of a seven-year-old” in sugar each year.
National statistics show an average person aged between four and 65 will consume 24kg – or 6,000 teaspoons – of sugar in a 12-month period.
SUGAR SMART Middlesbrough has been launched to tackle the rising consumption of sugar across Middlesbrough, by working with organisations, local authorities, workplaces, schools and charitable organisations.
Working closely with Middlesbrough Food Partnership, a collective of organisations aiming to ensure that everyone across Middlesbrough has access to healthy, nutritious and affordable food.
To launch the campaign an awareness day was held at The Live Well Centre in the town centre to provideinspiration and information to ten different organisations, with interactive stalls, cooking demonstrations & a guest talk from Vera Zakharov from Sustain.
The organisations have also pledged to take the first steps to becoming SUGAR SMART.
The campaign promotes easy changes within any organisation which can impact positively on staff and customers alike to help to keep healthy and happy bodies.
Cllr Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health, said: “The issue we are dealing with here is a national one but we are keen to highlight in Middlesbrough the positive changes that can be made to improve our health.
“The Sugar Smart campaign offers organisations the opportunity to come together and benefit from local expertise and support and so I would recommend the project to everyone.”
If you wish to become part of this project as an individual or organisation please contact Lauren Perkin from Middlesbrough Environment City on 01642 579820 or via email on Lauren.Perkin@menvcity.org.uk