Roadside snack vans threatened unless they offer healthy food .

Roadside vans offering greasy snacks will be shut down if they fail to offer healthier alternatives, according to new rules.

The snack vans, often found in busy lay-bys, must now offer soup,
salads or low fat yogurts with their artery-clogging kebabs.They must
also limit the amount of mayonnaise served - because it has been
branded a "very high fat product".Environmental health officers will
inspect menus during routine hygiene checks.And
traders who fail to meet the strict new standards in Guildford, Surrey,
will be refused a street trader's licence when it comes up for renewal
each year.Councillors at Guildford Borough Council this week
reviewed their street traders policy for the first time in seven years
and insisted every menu has at least one healthy option.The list
of recommended food includes low fat grilled sausage with wholemeal
bread, chilli con carne with lean mince and jacket potato with a
selection of fillings.A report to the council's licensing
committee said: "In accordance with the council's health promotion
programme, it is recommended that at least one healthy meal choice be
provided
for customers."The report added: "It is important that the use of
mayonnaise is limited since this is a very high fat product."It could
be offered to the customer to add himself as a choice."Grant
Harris, who has run the Skip's Catering food van from a lay-by on
Guildford's A281 for five years, thinks his customers will continue to
eat
burgers and chips.He said: "Our customers are mainly scaffolders,
builders and lorry drivers and they are not going to want this new
food."The sandwiches and jacket potatoes are more suited to a sandwich
bar."The rules seems to be going over the top with political
correctness."Some of the things the council is suggesting I serve would
cause a bit of a problem - I just can't see people wanting them."But
Clifford Bell, head of environmental health at the council, wants
motorists to move away from high calorie, high-fat food.He
said: "It remains for the trader to design his menu around the
principles
of healthier catering, such as grilling rather than frying."The aim is
to give consumers a wider choice and move away from the sole provision
of high calories, high fat fast foods."Vans operating on private land
will not be affected.




Not being funny but surely it is up to the individual if they stop or not most people know about road-side vans and what they offer. Nanny state again.


Would you stop and buy something ?

Thats stupid, I think it should be up to the owner of the van what he/she sells, maybe they could fly a skull and crossbones flag to signal that they only sell unhealthy, greasy lovely Bacon Rolls etc, that way you wont stop if you want lettuce on brown bread.

All they have to do is put one item on their menu which is healthy. How about a baked potato with no filling of any kind at £100 each, freshly cooked while you wait.