Restaurants urged to reduce fat

The council is handing out awards to restaurants that offer healthy food

A campaign to encourage takeaways and restaurants across Surrey to cut down on fat and calories in their food has been launched by the county council.

Trading standards officers are handing out bronze, silver and gold awards based on the type of food offered, and cooking methods used.

Councillor Kay Hammond said staff had to have training in nutrition to obtain the highest gold award.

She said there were 721 takeaways and restaurants across the county.

"This scheme is not about being a nanny state, but about giving consumers more choice, and the ability to have healthier options," she said.

"Our scheme will allow consumers to see that there are the choices there should they want them."

Fight against obesity

The aim of the Eat Out Eat Well scheme is to encourage caterers to offer healthy options.

They will have to show they are committed to food hygiene and to providing customers with information about menu ingredients.

Eat Out Eat Well is being piloted in Guildford, Elmbridge and Spelthorne and will eventually cover the whole of the county.

The Department of Health in the South East has contributed £15,000 to the campaign.

Pam Naylor, the Department of Health's South East Healthy Weight Manager, said it was an important step forward in the fight against obesity.