Health & Wellbeing

TV doctor Dr Christian Jessen has launched an awareness and education campaign taking place in Birmingham and other UK cities to encourage the city’s smokers to quit by switching to vaping. In Birmingham, 14% of the population are smokers, approximately 2% below the average in the UK.

Organised by the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA), the VApril campaign, which is being rolled out across cities throughout the UK during April, follows evidence recently published by Public Health England which highlights that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking and that there are substantial health benefits from completely switching from conventional cigarettes to e-cigarettes.

Smokers are being encouraged to take the VApril challenge by dropping into vaping masterclasses, being provided by specialist vaping stores in the city during April.  Participants will receive a free guide – Vape to Break the Smoking Habit - to help them transition from smoking to vaping and give them the best chance of a successful quit.

Dr Christian Jessen said: “According to a recent report by Public Health England (PHE), e-cigarettes may be contributing to at least 20,000 successful new quits per year - with the industry estimating this figure to be much higher. But as a doctor it's disappointing to hear that an estimated 40% of smokers still haven’t even tried vaping.

“I’m delighted to be joining forces with the UK Vaping Industry Association to launch VApril in the city. VApril is all about helping more smokers to make a successful and permanent switchover. I personally believe vaping has overwhelming potential to help smokers break their habit, and this is important because stopping smoking is the single most significant step that people can make to improve their health. We hope that smokers in the city will put down their cigarettes for a month, take the VApril Challenge and themselves the best chance of quitting smoking for good.”

John Dunne, a director of the UK Vaping Industry Association, added: “There is a real need for greater awareness of vaping amongst the millions of smokers still in the UK and getting more of them to consider vaping. Data shows only just 1 in 10 people understand the relative risk of vaping compared to smoking. This is despite consensus amongst high profile and respected healthcare organisations, that vaping is a small fraction of the risk posed by smoking and represents one of the best ways to quit.

“It is estimated that there are currently some 3m vapers in the UK, with almost half of these having quit smoking. VApril aims to encourage the 14% of population in Birmingham who smoke, to think about switching.”

There is a dedicated VApril website – www.vapril.org – where Birmingham’s smokers can find out more information about taking the VApril challenge, hear about vapers’ experiences, download a special guide for first time vapers and access a range of frequently asked questions about vaping.

New figures show that one in six (16%) people with a deadly inherited heart condition are only diagnosed after having a cardiac arrest, whilst a fifth (18%) of people are diagnosed after a sudden death in the family. The figures have been released by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) as part of their In Your Genes campaign, which aims to raise awareness of inherited heart conditions and highlight the urgent need for better diagnosis these conditions, so people can be identified before a tragedy or life-threatening cardiac arrest.

The BHF estimates that around 54,000 people in the West Midlands have a faulty gene which puts them at an unusually high risk of developing heart disease or dying suddenly at a young age [2]. Each child of someone with an inherited heart condition has a 50 per cent chance of inheriting the same faulty gene. But the majority of people remain undiagnosed. In the UK it is estimated that at least 12 young people (aged under 35) die every week from an undiagnosed heart condition.

The BHF survey of almost 200 people with inherited heart conditions from across the UK also found that nearly half of people (48%) were not diagnosed with their inherited heart condition until they were over the age of 40. The heart research charity is urging people to speak to their family about any early sudden deaths or premature heart disease in the family, which might have been caused by an inherited heart condition.

We now know about many of the genes which cause inherited heart conditions, thanks in-part to research funded by the BHF. However more research is urgently needed to better detect and treat these conditions to stop the devastation brought to loved ones, who could also be at risk themselves. Once someone has been diagnosed with an inherited heart condition, genetic testing should be carried out on first-degree relatives – a process called cascade testing. Genetic testing on family members can identify individuals who carry the faulty gene and steps can be taken to monitor individuals and reduce the risk of sudden death, such as surgery, medication or lifestyle changes.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said:

“It is extremely important that family members are offered genetic testing when there’s a history of sudden death or premature heart disease in a family. Once diagnosed, many of these conditions are manageable with medication or ICDs, and can prevent needless deaths.

“All too often, people aren’t familiar with their family history, or they aren’t aware that a sudden death might be linked to an underlying heart condition.

“We need to improve awareness of these conditions, and ensure that people have equal access to cascade genetic testing across the UK. If you have a family history of unexplained sudden deaths in your family, please speak to your GP or call our Genetic Information Service on 0300 456 8383.”

Twelve year old Owen Steatham, from Birmingham, was just nine when he collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest on his way home from school. Thankfully, paramedics were at the scene quickly and managed to save his life using a defibrillator. In hospital tests revealed that Owen was living with the inherited heart condition hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and was fitted with an ICD. As HCM is an inherited heart condition, the rest of Owen’s family have now been tested and it was revealed that his Dad and younger brother Riley (aged 7) are carrying the faulty gene. They are now being monitored so that they can be treated if they too develop the condition.

Owen’s father, David, 37, said: “We know that genetic testing has saved lives in our family. My uncle was diagnosed with the condition after Owen’s diagnosis, which led to him having an ICD fitted. Since then his ICD has delivered a shock to his heart after it went into a dangerous rhythm. Without the diagnosis and ICD he might not be alive today. Owen has also had 10 shocks from his ICD since his diagnosis, which has literally saved his life.

“My youngest son Riley, who’s just 7, and I have also got the faulty gene. This genetic testing means we are being monitored so that we can be treated if we develop this condition. I am so incredibly grateful to the genetic testing service. No one should have to go through what Owen went through.”

Jaguar Land Rover Solihull has made a generous donation of £5,000 to support Solihull Hospital Charity’s appeal which is going to bring a new cancer unit to Solihull Hospital. The unit, which will form an extension of the existing Ward 19 Cancer Centre at Heartlands Hospital, will have an initial 24 patient chairs, rising to 31 within the next three years.

The donation from Jaguar Land Rover has helped Solihull Hospital Charity towards their overall goal of raising £150,000 to support this project which will see the currently empty ward transformed into a space that has been specifically designed with patients in mind. The new Chemotherapy centre is an extension to the existing Heart of England Foundation Trust Ward 19 treatment centre at Heartlands and will enable more patients to be seen in a comfortable environment

Sharon Gray, Secretary of the Jaguar Land Rover Solihull Charity Committee said: "It's a lovely part of my job when I can tell people we're making a donation to their cause. Helping towards the Chemotherapy Day Unit at Solihull Hospital is a great way for us to support our community as so many of us are touched by cancer.

Over the last two years I am proud to say that at a plant level we've donated nearly £20,000 to the hospital charity for a variety of fundraising projects. Across our workforce there is always the desire to help local organisations, especially the local hospitals".

Justine Davy, Head of Fundraising at the hospital charity said: “This is a fantastic show of support from all of the people at Jaguar Land Rover Solihull. Huge thanks go to everyone at the plant, especially those from the Charity Committee who decided to donate such a generous amount of money to support this project.

“The Chemotherapy Day Unit at Solihull Hospital will provide a great service to low risk patients from across the region who are being treated for cancer. Not only will this day unit be convenient for those who use it, but it will take the strain off Ward 19 at Heartlands Hospital.

“Generous donations such as that from Jaguar Land Rover Solihull will enable the hospital charity to support the Chemotherapy Day Unit and I would greatly encourage any other local business or community group to support the Charity’s appeal.”

For more information about this appeal, please visit heft.org.uk/cancercentre

Over 58% of smokers still try to quit without using an aid and going “cold turkey”,² despite this being the least effective way. A PHE report highlights that public misunderstanding of the harmfulness of nicotine containing products, such as NRT and e-cigarettes, may be linked to inaccurate and confused perception of the risks of nicotine.

The risks of nicotine use are likely to be very low or negligible. NRT is safe and licenced for use in pregnancy and for people with cardio vascular disease. And there is now wide international consensus that e-cigarettes are far less harmful than smoking. It is the cocktail of deadly chemicals in cigarette smoke, including tar and carbon monoxide, which causes almost all of the harm of smoking.

Four in 10 smokers and ex-smokers incorrectly think that nicotine in cigarettes is the cause of most of the smoking-related cancer.¹ Understanding of the harms of nicotine among the general population is similarly poor. In 2017:

• only 7.5% thought that none or a very small part of the risk of smoking comes from nicotine
• 14% thought that it was nearly all the risk
• almost a quarter (24.2%) of the population didn’t know

• using NRT as a quit aid, such as patches and gums, or e-cigarettes makes it one and a half times as likely you’ll succeed;
• your chances of quitting are doubled if using a stop smoking medicine prescribed by a GP, pharmacist or other health professional;
• expert support from a local stop smoking service gives you the best chance of quitting successfully;
• combining quit aids with expert support makes it four times as likely you’ll stop smoking successfully.

“The good news is that there is free support including a range of products to help anyone wanting to quit. Visit https://www.nhs.uk/smokefree to find free advice on how to give up smoking in a way that suits you."

Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at PHE said: “Misunderstanding about the risks from nicotine may be deterring smokers from using quit aids such as e-cigarettes or nicotine replacement therapies like patches and gums.

“Nicotine is addictive but it’s the many thousands of chemicals in tobacco smoke that are responsible for almost all of the harm caused by smoking. Using nicotine quit aids helps manage cravings and can be one of the solutions to helping you stop for good. Going ‘cold turkey’ is not recommended as it’s the least successful way.

“To get the most benefit, make sure you use as much nicotine replacement as you need, and for as long as you need, as this will help you stop smoking and stay smokefree. Combining quit aids with support from a stop smoking service gives the best success rates. With the wide range of aids now available, there’s never been a better time to stop.”

PHE has been supporting all NHS trusts across the country to do all they can to become truly smokefree. The Government and NHS England have both made commitments to a smokefree NHS, in the latest tobacco control plan and the NHS five year forward view.

Smoking rates are at their lowest ever level (15.5% of the adult population), but there are still nearly seven million smokers in England. Smoking kills 79,000 people in England every year,³ and for every death another 20 smokers are suffering from a smoking-related disease.

People are being encouraged to visit their local pharmacy first if they have minor health concerns – and not A&E or their GP.

NHS England's new Stay Well Pharmacy campaign calls on people, especially parents and carers of children under the age of five, to speak to their pharmacist for clinical advice about issues such as sore throats, coughs, colds, upset stomachs, teething and aches and pains.

Pharmacists are trained in managing minor illness and can assess symptoms and either recommend the best course of treatment or simply provide reassurance when a minor illness will get better on its own. And if symptoms suggest it’s something more serious, they have the right clinical training to ensure people get the help they need.

Most people live within easy reach of a pharmacy, many of which offer extended opening hours in the evenings and at weekends. Most community pharmacies also have a private consultation room, suitable for confidential conversations if needed.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council's Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: "Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals who are the right people to see if you need clinical advice or over the counter medicines to help safely manage a wide range of minor health concerns.

"Using a pharmacy first where appropriate will help free up GP time for more urgent appointments and reduce non-emergency A&E visits."

Severn Trent has hosted its annual Health Liaison Day, in which the company invites more than 100 professional bodies to talk about innovation and water quality.

The FTSE 100 Company welcomed health professionals, water quality experts, members of local authorities and colleagues from other water companies to the event in Sutton Coldfield, which is designed to promote discussion and share knowledge around the water industry.

Scott Ludford from Severn Trent, who organised and hosted the event, said: “It’s brilliant to have so many people with different expertise in one room who are willing, and keen, to share and discuss knowledge and ideas.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase some of the great work we do at Severn Trent, as well as taking advantage of having so many experts together at the same time. Building great relationships within our industry is vital, so we’re really thankful to those who attended and took part to help make the day as successful as it was.”

Among the attendees were Public Health England and Wales, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Consumer Council for Water, as well as local authorities within the company’s region, which covers the majority of the Midlands and mid-Wales.

The company delivered various presentations around new innovative technology it’s using, as well as showcasing the ways it’s looking to improve water quality.

“The water sector is constantly evolving, so days like this are really valuable in making sure we’re sharing innovative ideas and learning from each other so we can continue to provide a great, reliable service for our customers now and in the future.” Scott added.

Paul Quinn, Local Consumer Advocate for the Consumer Council for Water, who attended the event, said: "It was great to witness Severn Trent and public health professionals generously sharing their experiences, knowledge and innovative ideas to help ensure that current and future consumers can have confidence in the safety and wholesomeness of their tap water."

Holland America Line’s Zuiderdam recently earned a perfect score of 100 on a surprise routine United States Public Health (USPH) inspection conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Zuiderdam’s score follows sister ship Eurodam’s December 2017 score of 100, continuing that ship’s six-year run of perfect scores.

Zuiderdam’s unannounced USPH inspection was held Jan. 27, 2018, during a turnaround at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at the start of an 11-day Panama Canal and Caribbean cruise. Over the past four years, several Holland America Line ships have achieved a perfect score of 100 more than 23 times.

“Everyone involved with these inspections works incredibly hard to achieve that perfect score, and it’s especially difficult on a turnaround day when there’s so much happening on board,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “A score of 100 carries significant magnitude, and we congratulate the entire team aboard Zuiderdam for this accomplishment.”

CDC inspections are part of the Vessel Sanitation Program, which was introduced in the early 1970s and is required for all passenger ships that call at a U.S. port. The inspections are unannounced and are carried out by officials from the United States Public Health Service twice a year for every cruise ship.

The score, on a scale from one to 100, is assigned on the basis of a checklist involving dozens of areas of assessment encompassing hygiene and sanitation of food (from storage to preparation), overall galley cleanliness, water, shipboard personnel and the ship as a whole.

As the world prepares to mark World Cancer Day on Sunday 4 February, the UK Asbestos Training Association (UKATA) says it is vital asbestos related cancers like Mesothelioma are not forgotten. While cancer is the biggest killer worldwide, mesothelioma is the UKs biggest workplace killer, with HSE figures showing 2,542 deaths in 2015 alone and over 5,000 asbestos related deaths from cancer in this period.

“UKATA strongly supports the battle to beat cancer, yet among 200 cancer types, mesothelioma remains a hidden killer,” said UKATA Marketing & Events Officer Victoria Castelluccio. “Asbestos related lung cancers make up 40 per cent of lung diseases in the HSE figures and the frightening thing is, these rates are projected to remain the same for the next decade. In females in the UK, mesothelioma is the 20th most common cause of cancer death! This is one of the reasons UKATA supports Mesothelioma UK, the Mavis Nye Foundation and others working to support victims and raise awareness of the dangers.”

World Cancer Day from Cancer Research UK aims to unite everyone in the fight against cancer, with donations supporting scientists, doctors and nurses and improving survival rates. In December, Victoria attended the opening of Mesothelioma UK’s new headquarters; as part of UKATA’s commitment to the cause. Victoria says the reasons asbestos related cancers need to be high on the agenda are stark.

What’s romance without a bit of banter, competition and fun?

As romantic as it might be to book a candlelit dinner at a fancy restaurant, or to buy the usual bouquet of flowers, or chocolates, that can make Valentine’s Day celebrations super predictable. Why not quit being conventional and surprise your other half with an exciting alternative? A trip to The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience!

If you’re a couple that prefers not to spend the 14th February doing the usual mushy activities, are die-hard fans of the iconic 90s show, or if you just enjoy a challenge and taking the micky out of each other, then this is the perfect way to celebrate this Valentine’s.

To share the love The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience is also offering 15 couples who have been married more than 15 years, and therefore celebrating their Crystal anniversary, the chance to win a pair of free* tickets to its attraction in Manchester or London.

Whether you’re a couple seeking alternative ways to have fun this Valentine’s, or a group of mates trying to avoid all things hearts and romance, teams of eight will be lead around the maze’s four themed zones: Aztec, Medieval, Industrial and Futuristic, by a charismatic Maze Master.

Inside each zone are different challenges: skill, physical, mental and mystery and it’s up to your team captain to decide who takes on which challenge with the ultimate goal of winning a crystal. Each crystal won means more time in the iconic dome, where the aim is to catch enough golden tickets to bag yourself a spot on the coveted leader board!

Spend this Valentine’s lost in The Crystal Maze rolling around with laughter, running and even crawling to get to the Crystal dome at the end as the whole experience is hilariously entertaining from start to finish.

With news of the flu being a hot topic right now, Hallfield School in Edgbaston put on a special assembly teaching youngsters all about germs and the importance of hygiene.

This morning, school nurse, Mrs Florance, took over the Pre-Prep assembly to talk about germs, where they are, and how we can stop them from spreading.

They discussed the importance of washing your hands and a number of volunteers assisted in explaining the steps on how to do it thoroughly.

Mrs Florance rounded off the assembly with a song ‘If you’re happy and you know it wash your hands.’

Speaking of the assembly, Mrs Florance said: “The flu has affected a lot of people across the country this year so we thought it was crucial that we teach our younger children how to stay safe by preventing germs from getting into out bodies.

“Washing hands regularly with soap and warm water could limit the spread of germs and reduce the risk of catching the flu.

 “This winter’s outbreak is reported to be 16 times more severe than last year’s so it really is worrying.”

Aussie flu is on the rise in the UK with Government data showing 4,128 people being struck down across England last week, compared to 3,044 new cases the week before.

Anne Oliver, Head of Pre-Prep at Hallfield School, said: “It's not just parents who cultivate habits of cleanliness in children, we realise that teachers have a responsibility to teach and reinforce hygiene habits too.

“It's vital that children understand the importance of hygiene and washing your hands so they can lead healthier lives.”

National estate agents Leaders has confirmed Teenage Cancer Trust as its new charity partner for 2018 and announced it plans to raise £50,000 for the good cause.

The property firm will work with Teenage Cancer Trust over the next 12 months to fundraise and raise awareness of its invaluable work in supporting the thousands of young people in the UK aged between 13 and 24 who are diagnosed with cancer each year.

Teenage Cancer Trust provides expert staff and specialist units across the UK to care for young people diagnosed with cancer. Currently, almost half of young people with cancer are not treated in Teenage Cancer Trust units, so the charity is building a wider nursing and support service within the NHS to help all young people, wherever they receive treatment.

Allison Thompson, managing director at Leaders, says: “Every day, seven young people aged between 13 and 24 are diagnosed with cancer and it is only thanks to the work of Teenage Cancer Trust that they have specialist support, advice and care available to them.

“The unique support the charity offers makes a huge difference to the young people they help, and their families, but unfortunately there are still some young people they simply cannot reach. I know all our staff at Leaders are ready to get behind Teenage Cancer Trust and use their imagination and hard work to fundraise on its behalf in 2018 and hopefully we can go a small way towards helping the charity realise its aim of ensuring no young person has to face cancer alone.”

Sian Cooper, regional fundraiser at Teenage Cancer Trust, says: “Right now, for every young person that we reach, there is another that we can’t. We’re determined to reach every young person with cancer in the UK and with Leaders’ help, we can get steps closer to making this happen. We can’t thank the staff enough for choosing to support us in 2018 and we’re so excited to be working with them and see the amazing ways they get involved to support young people with cancer.”

With Teenage Cancer Trust set to receive Leaders’ support in 2018, it marks the end of the company’s previous partnership with Together for Short Lives that saw it raise approximately £150,000 for the children’s hospice charity in the last three years.

It’s not too late for people to get protected against flu and help themselves Stay Well This Winter, with free vaccinations available to people from at risk groups.

A mix of flu types, including the strain dubbed Aussie flu which first appeared last winter in the UK and then in Australia, are currently in circulation in the region, and people who have not yet had their vaccinations are being urged to do so as soon as possible.

Dr Helen Carter, Deputy Director at Public Health England (PHE) West Midlands, said: “Our data shows that more people are visiting GPs with flu symptoms and we are seeing more people admitted to hospitals with the flu.

“The vaccine is the best defence we have against the spread of flu and it isn’t too late for people to go to their GP or pharmacist and get vaccinated – especially those in risk groups including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, young children or those with a long-term medical condition.”

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Several million people get flu each winter, and while for most healthy people, recovering from flu can take roughly a week, for those who are more vulnerable it can be very dangerous and even life-threatening.

“The message is clear; please get the flu vaccine now because it’s better late than never.

“The vaccine is free if you are in one of the at-risk groups, and even if you are not, you can still arrange to get your vaccination for a small charge from many local pharmacies.”

Symptoms of flu include the sudden onset of fever, cough, sore throat, aching muscles and joints. The best advice is to rest, keep warm and drink plenty of water. Health chiefs also recommend people take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower high temperatures and relieve aches if necessary.

People suffering from flu-like symptoms should catch coughs or sneezes in tissues and bin them immediately, wash their hands regularly with soap and warm water and frequently clean surfaces to stop the spread of flu.

It is also important that people with symptoms of flu avoid unnecessary contact with others. Anyone concerned about their symptoms should instead stay at home and contact their GP or call NHS 111 to seek further advice.

Providing flu vaccinations is part of the Stay Well This Winter campaign, a joint initiative from NHS England and Public Health England to help the public ward off common winter illnesses. Please visit www.nhs.uk/staywell for more information.

Health chiefs are encouraging families in Wolverhampton to help children reduce their sugar intake by choosing healthier snacks.

It comes as new data shows youngsters in England are eating nearly three times the recommended amount of sugar.

Half the sugar children and young people consume comes from snacks and sugary drinks, and too much can cause serious health problems, painful tooth decay and harmful fats building up inside the body.

To help people reduce the amount of sugar their children are consuming and choose healthier snacks while shopping, Public Health England’s Change4Life campaign has this week unveiled a simple mantra: "Look for 100 calorie snacks, two a day max!".

Parents can sign up to the Change4Life website – www.nhs.uk/change4life – to receive money-off vouchers for healthier snacks and helpful tips, while primary school age children will receive a leaflet over the next few weeks packed with healthier snacking ideas and fun activities.

An updated Change4Life Food Scanner app is also being launched, bringing labels to life and showing just how much sugar, salt and saturated fat is inside everyday snacks, foods and drinks. It can be downloaded for free from the iTunes store or Google Play.

Councillor Paul Sweet, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “We have a well-documented issue with weight problems among children and young people – as well as adults – in Wolverhampton.

“Just over a quarter of our 10-year-olds are classed as obese compared to just under a fifth nationally, and this is something the council and its partners are determined to address.

“While eating well and in moderation is ultimately down to the individual, it is the responsibility of parents and carers to ensure their children enjoy a balanced, healthy diet and to reduce the amount of sugar they are consuming.

“I welcome Public Health England’s latest Change4Life campaign; it will help families make healthier choices and I’d urge parents to try out the free tools and resources which are available online."

The fry up is getting a makeover as Waitrose launches new meat sausages which are also packed with up to 35% fruit, vegetables or pulses. The sausages have been developed for shoppers looking to reduce their meat intake. Added ingredients include lentils, cauliflower and kale.

The range is one of the supermarket's new healthier food launches for 2018 which also includes sandwiches made with omelette in place of bread, edamame noodles and miso balls, all of which add protein to your diet.

The products will also carry the new Waitrose 'Good Health' label which has been designed to make it easier for shoppers to make healthier choices, and which is being introduced across a range of products from this week.

Along with the sausages (which include a Pork, Butternut Squash & Kale flavour), shoppers' midweek favourites - meatballs and mince - have been boosted with nutritious ingredients too.  Recipes include Harissa Chicken, Cauliflower Rice & Chickpea Meatballs which provide a source of fibre.

For those not wanting to stray too far from the traditional, the retailer is also launching Cumberland Chipolatas and Beef Mince, but with added mixed pulses including pinto beans and green lentils).

High protein foods are fast growing in popularity with gym goers. And Waitrose has revamped its sandwich range to include a wrap which, in place of a normal tortilla, uses omelette. The egg means the sandwich is high in protein which helps muscles grow, as part of a healthy balanced diet. The Protein Power Chicken and Chorizo Wrap sits alongside two new vegan sandwiches -  Vegan Mean Greens and the Sweet Potato and Chipotle Sandwich - helping to meet the growing demand for vegan food.

Healthier twists have been given to the Waitrose stir fry range, too. Shoppers can now swap regular noodles for edamame ones, which have five times the fibre and three times the protein of a standard egg noodle.  They follow the trend for customers wanting easy yet healthier swaps for traditional ingredients.

Waitrose is also offering Mushroom and Miso Stir Fry Bites, which will appeal to vegetarians, vegans and flexitarians. They can be added as a meat replacement in Asian dishes and are a source of fibre and high in protein.

Nathalie Winn, Waitrose Senior Nutritionist says, “We've recently found that a third of shoppers* find it difficult to know which foods to choose for a healthy diet. Our new label will help busy customers find the healthier options on our shelves.  Introducing more creative options to your diet such as meat sausages packed with veggies will keep mealtimes interesting and help keep healthy resolutions on track.”

The new 'Good Health' label will show on many of the supermarket's own-brand products, from fresh produce, juices and smoothies to store cupboard essentials including pulses and grains. Every product carrying the Good Health label has been assessed by a team of nutritionists and meet strict criteria based on government guidelines for fat, saturated fat, added sugar and salt, and so won't appear on products with red traffic lights, apart from where the fats and sugars are naturally occurring.

The nutritional benefits of the products will be clearly signposted on packaging, including claims such as whether they're high in, or a source of, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients - as well as information on how this in turn benefits health.

Indicators such as 'high in fibre', 'Source of Vitamin D' and '1 of your 5 a day' will help customers to make healthier choices.

As part of a wider approach to help colleagues and customers on health, Tesco has today stepped up plans to help make healthier choices a little easier for shoppers by backing the first Public Health England Change4Life campaign to promote healthier snacking for children.

Building on the success of Tesco's 2017 'Little Helps to Healthier Living' campaign which saw the biggest monthly increase in the healthiness of their customers' baskets, the new initiative will help parents, shopping in-store and online, choose affordable healthier snacks that are 100 calories or less.

The campaign, which runs for the month of January, will appear in all Tesco stores and online at Tesco.com. It includes in-store point of sale promotional materials of healthier kids' snacks featuring Change4Life branding. The snacks – which include Pink Lady Apple Snack Packs, Goodness Strawberry Cereal bars and Tesco Pineapple Pieces in Juice 120g – will be available at everyday low prices.

Online, Tesco will use innovative technology in partnership with SpoonGuru to allow customers to quickly and simply find 130 healthier snacks containing 100 calories or less.

Support for the Change4Life healthier snacking campaign is part of Tesco's integrated approach to help colleagues and customers at a time of the year when healthier eating is front of mind. Other key initiatives include:

• Helpful 'little swaps' – at the front of all large stores a helpful basket comparison will highlight ten 'little swaps' that are lower in sat fat, salt and sugar. Taken together the ten little swaps will be 18% lower in price than the less healthy alternative basket. Additionally, 60 healthier alternatives will be highlighted under a 'Helpful Little Swaps' banner in-store and online.
• Weekly Little Helps – each week in January Tesco will offer lower prices on fresh fruit and vegetables in store and online, including apples, avocados and salad tomatoes.
• Food Love Stories advertising – Tesco will promote the recipe for 'Nana's Magic Soup', offering 2 of your 5 a day per portion, on TV and offer 25% off all ingredients – alongside other Food Love Stories spanning all meal occasions, offering inspiration on healthier cooking.
• Free Fruit for Kids – increased communication of Tesco's pioneering Free Fruit for Kids scheme in stores which has seen kids enjoy over 32 million pieces of fruit since launch in 2017.

“We know that our customers want us to help them eat more healthily and it can be particularly difficult to encourage children to eat healthy snacks. By promoting a wide range of snacks, aligned with Public Health England's campaign, we hope to make it easier for families to make a healthier start to the year. This is part of a wider programme to help our colleagues and customers stay healthy.”

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England, said:

“Half of the sugar children eat and drink is coming from unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks. The Change4Life campaign is our way of giving parents a helping hand to make healthier choices for their children. We highly value Tesco's support for Change4Life and its wider efforts to make it simpler to eat healthily.”