Gold Award success for Calorie Wise achievers  

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, in partnership with the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland, is proud to announce the continued success of five catering establishments within the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT).  

The catering establishments have achieved and maintained the prestigious Calorie Wise Gold Award, a testament to their commitment in promoting healthier choices and providing vital nutritional information to their customers.  

Calorie Wise is an innovative voluntary initiative that empowers food businesses across the Fermanagh and Omagh district area to participate in an effort to promote healthy eating. The initiative is supported by Environmental Health Services and led by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Northern Ireland.  

This initiative enables food establishments to voluntarily display energy information, in both kilojoules (kJ) and kilocalories (kcal), on their menus. The goal is to equip consumers with the information they need to make healthier dining choices when eating out.  

The demand for calorie labelling has been steadily growing, driven by a desire to positively influence food and beverage choices and calorie consumption. Under Calorie Wise, businesses have the option to apply for either the Gold or the Silver award.   

The five catering establishments within the WHSCT that have earned and retained the coveted Calorie Wise Gold Award are the Omagh Hospital & Primary Care Complex River Café, the Omagh Hospital & Primary Care Complex Coffee Doc, the Tyrone & Fermanagh Hospital Staff Restaurant, the South West Acute Hospital Restaurant and the South West Acute Hospital Coffee Shop.  

 A spokesperson from the WHSCT commented: 

 “The Support Services Catering Teams at the South West Acute Hospital, Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex and the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital are delighted to achieve the Calorie Wise Gold Award for the second time. The calorie wise information assists our Staff and customers to make an informative decision of their food choices. 

 Our Support Services Catering Team work hard to keep the energy information current and up to date on our menus. They also continue to provide nutritious healthy meal choices for our customers and Staff to enjoy.” 

These WHSCT establishments first achieved the Calorie Wise Gold Award in December 2020, and through a recent re-audit process, they have demonstrated their unwavering dedication to promoting health-conscious dining. By prominently displaying energy information on their menus, these establishments are empowering both staff and visitors to make informed healthier meal or snack choices while dining on their premises.  

Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly said: 

 “I wish to congratulate the Catering Support Services Department at the Omagh Hospitals and South West Acute Hospital for their exceptional efforts and commitment to healthier food choices for customers and their involvement throughout the audit process”. 

For more details about the Calorie Wise scheme and how food businesses can participate, please visit the Food Standards Agency website www.food.gov.uk