The initiative involved foodservice distributor Bidfood and Losalt, educating staff and the 1,628 inmates about the benefits of reduced salt in their diet. The catering team replaced regular salt with Losalt, which boasts 66% less sodium, reducing the estimated sodium consumption across the prison by 200kg.
Excessive salt in a person’s diet is associated with high blood pressure, which can increase the risk of heart disease and strokes.
Mike Lloyd, business development manager of Losalt, said: “It’s been excellent to work alongside the Ministry of Justice and Bidfood on this initiative. All of us share the importance of installing healthy eating habits and hopefully this commended work shows how a positive diet choice on using Losalt can help reduce sodium consumption with no compromises.”
Following the success of this initiative, other prisons across the country are now committed to replacing salt with Losalt to deliver health benefits to staff, inmates and visitors.
Neil Tyson, catering manager at HMP Wandsworth, said: “We are delighted to have been ‘Highly Commended’ in such a prestigious awards scheme. Food is vital to the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of the prisoner and it’s my responsibility to provide healthy and nutritious meals. Working with Bidfood to make a seamless switch to Losalt has been a huge success.”
The Footprint Health & Vitality Honours are designed to recognise excellence in the cost and profit sectors of the foodservice industry.