Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
17
Mar
Revealed: How council makes thousands of pounds selling junk food at leisure centres
North Yorkshire Council has been criticised by anti-obesity charities for making £90,000 from the sale of junk food and fizzy drinks at Harrogate district leisure centres.
Council-owned leisure centres in Knaresborough, Harrogate and Ripon exist to boost residents’ health and help them keep fit.
However, a freedom of information request by the Stray Ferret has revealed that the council operates nine vending machines selling unhealthy snacks at three centres in the district.
The Obesity Health Alliance, which represents health charities including Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation as well as medical royal colleges, said the council should refocus its offering to healthier options, especially to children.
But the council has defended its decision and said the products it sells in its vending machines are in line with NHS guidelines.
Fizzy drinks and crisps
Our freedom of information request shows that the council operates vending machines at three sites in the Harrogate district.
The Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in Ripon, Harrogate Leisure and Wellness Centre and Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre each have three machines selling coffee, drinks, confectionary and sweet snacks.
The machines are supplied by Livewell Vending and have made the council £90,887.43 in revenue since each of the centres opened.
The revenue made by the vending machines. Data: NYC.
The Stray Ferret asked the council for a list of each of the products it sells in the vending machines. Among the products included:
- Pepsi Max 500ml
- Mini Cheddars
- Barebells chocolate protein milkshake
- Grenade Oreo protein bar
- Devonvale chocolate flapjack
- Quavers crisps
- Pepsi Max cherry 500ml
- Hot chocolate Galaxy
- Oasis summer fruits 500ml
- Jaffa Cake snack pack
- Walkers baked ready salted crisps
The authority said the product range was agreed by the service, which was recently rebranded Active North Yorkshire from Brimhams Active, and the supplier.
The council also provided a breakdown of the revenue made from each product.
A Ballygowan 500ml bottle of water sold the most with £6,128.80, closely followed by Barebells chocolate protein milkshake at £4,785.50.
The third highest selling product was Pepsi Max which made £4,411.80. Fourth on the list was Mini Cheddars which made £3,059.10.
‘There are healthier options’
Alfie Slade, government affairs lead for Obesity Health Alliance, which represents more than 60 of the UK's largest health charities and medical royal colleges, said the council should focus on healthier options in its vending machines.
He told the Stray Ferret:
Councils should be promoting healthier options wherever possible, especially to children.
There are so many healthier options that they could be putting the spotlight on, and shifting the focus away from foods that harm children's health is vital if we are going to make our communities healthier.
Knaresborough Leisure and Wellness Centre.
Ripon leisure centre
The Stray Ferret asked the council how it justified selling unhealthy snacks at leisure centres which are supposed to improve public health.
The council said in response:
We currently operate a fully managed vending offer at the three larger sites within the Harrogate district.
All are NHS England Commissioning for Quality and Innovation framework (CQUIN) compliant and within the set guidelines for food and drink.
At least 80% of drinks lines stocked must be sugar-free (less than 5 grams of sugar per 100ml) and the confectionery and packet sweet snacks are in the smallest standard single-serve portion size, available within the market and do not exceed 250kcal.
Do you think the leisure centres should sell these products? Let us know in the comment section below.
3