4Cs in the desert
Leeds City Council food and health team talk about 4Cs in the desert, a public and environmental health initiative using frontline EHPs to deliver food safety and healthy eating messages direct to businesses in a way designed to communicate those messages effectively.
The project focused on two wards in east Leeds which have some of the most deprived areas in the city and where there are a number of black and ethnic minority proprietors and was run in partnership between, Leeds City Council, Environmental Health Action Services, Leeds Primary Care Trust and funded by the Food Standards Agency under the Local Food Hygiene & Nutrition initiative.
After interviewing proprietors of retail shops in the area it was found that generally food proprietors had little knowledge of issues around healthy eating, would welcome advice, and declared that the person/officer most likely to be trusted to give this advice would be the EHO during a routine food visit.
Aims and Objectives
- To increase the awareness and implementation of good food safety practice amongst food handlers in Black Minority Ethnic (BME) communities in the targeted areas.
- To assist proprietors of food business to increase the awareness of healthy eating in the targeted areas.
Partners
- Leeds City Council, Environmental Health Services (Food and Health and Health Improvement Teams)
- Leeds Primary Care Trust
- Food Standards Agency
Methodology
Our target audience were retailers – grocers – newsagents etc who were selling tinned goods or small amounts of fruit and veg. This was because there were very few shops selling fruit and veg in one ward and people were travelling several miles to the nearest large supermarket.
Our purpose was to find out why these small retailers were not selling fruit and veg, what was needed to help them sell more, to help them identify the healthy food options they were selling, how they could promote them or what alternatives could be found to increase the availability of healthy food options in the area.
Methods included:
1. Environmental Health Practitioners to receive training in healthy eating issues. Training was given by a nutrition researcher/lecturer from Leeds University who was also involved with developing the Leeds Food Strategy.
2. Develop 4 Cs Folder in appropriate languages for BME communities. Produce resource pack; to include flash card (simple visual-aids demonstrating the 4cs, healthy eating and food fitness)
3. Translate 4 Cs and healthy eating material-Leeds Translation Unit Resource packs to include colour coded cloths, probe wipes, fridge thermometers and food hygiene video (available in urdu, Gurdurati, Punjabi, Bengali) produced by Leeds City Council Department.
4. Environmental Health Practitioners to use packs during inspections and visits to food premises.
5. Training sessions and demonstrations to be held in community setting (to include food safety, healthy eating and cooking demonstrations)
Promotion
The project was promoted by a visit to premises and the 4C pack was provided to business proprietors. Translated flashcards were also provided to businesses.
At this stage the project has not been promoted more widely as it was a pilot – if pursued we may have gone for more publicity.
Resources
A grant from the Food Standards Agency.
Evaluation
Some evaluation was undertaken, and this identified that relatively low risk premises such as the traditional corner shop, located within the heart of communities can play a key role in promoting healthy eating. Further work could be undertaken to work with small businsesses to identify ways these businesses may contribute to food safety and healthy eating options as well as increasing business.
Further research has been completed by a student Environmental health practitioner though her final year dissertation. The findings indicated that the 4Cs packs were favourably received and raised awareness of healthy eating issues amongst proprietors.
Officers in the food and health team still use the packs when appropriate and continue to monitor compliance scores for the food hygiene element of the message, and may use the healthy eating element of the Leeds 'scores on the doors' scheme to monitor changed behaviour in this area.
Lessons Learned
- Packs were subsequently translated into Chinese as EHOs felt there would be benefits with this ethnic group.
- The project was one of two bids submitted to FSA – both were successful. When we were successful on both bids people with an interest had to participate in the projects at the same time as doing the day job!
Future Developments
Resource packs to be provided to food businesses during visits, food investigations, outbreaks and inspections. Flash Cards to be used by Environmental Health Practitioners during food hygiene inspections.
We hope to provide other local authorities and organisations with translated material on CD ROM.
Contact Details
Contact Name: John Swift
Job Title: Health Improvement Specialist (Environment)
Phone: 0113 3057551
Email: john.swift@leedspct.nhs.uk
Organisation: Leeds Primary Care Trust
Address: Leeds Primary Care Trust , North West House, West Park Ring Road, LS16 6QG