'It’s time for takeaways to be rated for health, not just hygiene' - Your Letters plus flying back to 2015 in our picture from the archive series

Following the recent article about obesity amongst the population, I write with some suggestions regarding takeaways, and indeed food outlets in general. 

Last year, I became acutely aware of the amount of fat in takeaway food, and did some brief research. 

I found that in particular only certain dishes could contain more acceptable amounts of fat, mainly those which were grilled. We found an Indian restaurant nearby which offered to cook grilled meals using lower fat levels too. On holiday, we have found a fish and chip shop which offered grilled fish and boiled potatoes at a small premium price.

I am aware that takeaways are given a food hygiene rating by the local authority. I would suggest that a healthy food rating is also given, using the same scale of 1 to 5. 

This would be displayed under the current green badging sign. For example, a takeaway which only serves healthy, low-fat meals and drinks would qualify for a 5-star rating. 

The definitions of what constitutes healthy, low-fat, low-processed etc. would be decided by the local authority based on scientific research with local know-how. 

A takeaway which serves primarily high fat, high-processed foods but also some healthy options would not be able to score more than 3 as it's prime sales were not deemed healthy. The till receipts - as checked - can show what is sold if the outlet disagrees with a ruling.

The healthy food rating is a great business opportunity. How about 'Wolverhampton's first 5-star healthy food takeaway', or 'Wolverhampton's first Kimchi takeaway'?. This would stand out in a very crowded market-place.

Matthew Holder, Penn

Many struggle with an email

As an elderly gentleman I struggle with anything to do with computers, so why do companies insist on communicating via email?

For example, Wolverhampton City Council send a letter to cancel the garden bin and provide a telephone number to call to do this. But when you call it says to email! Do companies not recognise that not everyone is able to do this? Why are they not offering a solution for those vulnerable members of society? To send this letter via email I have to ask my daughter to do it!

Is anyone in the same boat as me?

Peter Bailey, Wolverhampton

Why not get the flu jab on offer?

We are warned flu will be bad this year, but many people I know aren’t taking up the offer of a jab. Surely the more who are protected the better chance the NHS will get through the winter.

Peter Jones, Shifnal

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