Perth Voice Interactive

WITH 58 per cent of adults in Vincent being overweight or obese, Vincent council is considering a new “Healthy Food and Drink Policy” calling for a reduction in unhealthy foods at council venues and events and a ban on sponsoring unhealthy brands. 

A report to Vincent councillors this week says that along with the high number of overweight or obese adults, 45 per cent have less than two servings of daily fruit, and 82 per cent had less than five serves of vegetables. 

In 2022 the food and drink offerings at two council-owned venues, which both have a privately-operated food and drink caf√©, were benchmarked against state-based “Healthy Options WA” criteria.

It found more than 50 per cent of food and drink items were classed as “unhealthy”, being high in saturated fat, added sugars or salt.

Following in the footsteps of Cockburn council’s 2018 policy, Vincent wouldn’t outright ban unhealthy foods, but the draft policy calls for the city to “ensure that healthy food and drink: is available where food is sold to community members at city facilities, including in cafes, kiosks and vending machines”.

It also ensures healthy food and drink “is predominantly offered and encouraged, and unhealthy food and drink is limited and discouraged when catering is provided at city meetings, workshops, functions and events at city facilities”.

Advertising containing unhealthy food will also be “discouraged”. 

Companies complying with the policy would be taken into account when awarding tenders for food supply or tenancies for kiosks.

The policy also says “the city will not engage in sponsorship of brands and businesses directly associated with unhealthy food and drink options”.

Mayor Alison Xamon said this week there’d been some chatter about the idea on “talkback radio – always fun”, but that some critics “are perhaps really not looking at what it is we’re passing”.

She said it was wise to look at what was on offer at council venues and events, and discouraging the marketing of unhealthy was important given “the invidious way that advertising can impact on healthy food choices”.

The policy was in the making since 2020, well before Ms Xamon became mayor in 2023, but she said “I have to say as a vegetarian who eats low carb I welcome a better range of food that I’m going to potentially be able to eat”. 

The draft will now go out to 21 days of consultation. 

by DAVID BELL