The Healthier Catering Commitment (HCC) is a scheme that recognises businesses that demonstrate a commitment to offering healthier options.
It helps you make small changes to the way your food is prepared which in turn will make the food sold healthier.
This may help attract new customers looking for healthier food and drink options while still allowing you to keep your main food offering.
The scheme is simple to operate, requires very little work from yourselves and can help make a health difference to your customers. It is not about selling different foods, but making small changes to the way you prepare and serve food.
For more information, read the guidance notes and fact sheets on the Healthier Catering Commitment website.
Why you should join
Joining HCC gives you several benefits:
- Your business will be published on the HCC website, HCC Instagram, Twitter and Facebook pages and the Good Food in Greenwich website.
- Once you have signed up, you will receive a HCC window sticker and certificate.
- By signing up, you can be a good food retail business, where residents know they can access convenient food cooked in a healthier way.
- Your business may get priority access to catering procurement opportunities with Royal Greenwich in the future.
Who can join
Any business that is not part of a large chain and has a food hygiene rating of 3 or above can join.
The Healthier Catering Commitment is free to join and could even save you money by reducing the amount of food wasted or oil and salt used.
There are four essential criteria that you must meet and some optional ones that you can pick from out of 25. The four criteria all business need to comply with are:
- using a polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat or oil such as sunflower, corn or rapeseed oil
- letting your customers add their own salt to their food and not adding salt to water used for cooking vegetables, rice or pasta
- having and promoting water and low sugar drinks
- having smaller portions available for children and adults
If you fry foods, you also need to:
- have your cooking oil at 175°C
- drain excess fat from food before serving
- maintain your frying oil by skimming during service, topping up and filtering
Apply to join
Join the Healthier Catering Commitment
If you would like more information on the eligibility criteria or how to join, contact us at HCC@royalgreenwich.gov.uk