Seven South Somerset businesses redevelop their menus

They were the first of 50 businesses across the county that will now receive direct training on how to introduce healthier menu options - without having to change their budget or customer base. The seminars, one-to-one coaching, in-house visits and practical advice sessions are being organised by South Somerset District Council which became one of only two authorities in entire South West region to receive a £10,000 grant from the Food Standards Agency for the project. The aim is to significantly reduce children's consumption of saturated fat, salt and sugar, provide businesses with the tools they need to improve their menu and health awareness, and in turn help drive down childhood obesity and bad diet-related illness. Nigel O'Grady, environmental health officer at South Somerset District Council, said: "As soon as we found out the project had the go-ahead, all five district councils identified popular premises in the leisure or holiday sector and invites were sent out. These are businesses that are clearly very proactive and willing to explore possibilities of adding even more choice to their menus." Cllr Ric Pallister, portfolio holder for Environmental Health at South Somerset District Council added: "This is a great opportunity to target businesses directly linked to the food choices that children are making. "Something must be done, nationally and in Somerset, to halt rising obesity levels. Estimations show that between 24 and 30 per cent of children in Somerset are overweight and 6 to 9 per cent are obese before they even turn 19."