Action on Sugar Chairman Prof MacGregor wins Sugar Reduction Hero award!
We are delighted to announce that our Chairman, Professor Graham MacGregor, won the Sugar Reduction Summit 'Sugar Reduction Hero' award.
The inaugural Sugar Reduction Awards took place alongside The Sugar Reduction Summit at The Royal Society London, on Thursday 9th November, and were launched to recognise and celebrate the progress that has been made in sugar reduction across public health, education, academia, manufacturing and supply chains, and were supported by Layn, Sugarwise and Bayn Europe.
Professor MacGregor’s hard work and dedication to public health was recognised by a panel of judges, including 14 industry and academic experts, and he beat fierce competition from Jamie Oliver, who came highly commended.
With his scientific background, Professor MacGregor has led successful public health campaigns that are realistic, impactful and evidence based. Given the experience he has had over the last 20 years he is an expert on how to campaign and produce practical plans, particularly reformulation, which work and are also suitable for other countries. Through unique foresight and a thorough comprehension of the complexities of public health, he has successfully married up research, scientific evidence and food policy.
Professor MacGregor has notably championed reformulation as one of the most cost-effective approaches to improving population health long-term, particularly in children and young people who have less control over the food that they consume, plus those who are not health-engaged. He has worked relentlessly to convince NGOs, health professionals and the government of this, which has resulted in a world leading salt reduction campaign, and now the same for sugar reduction.
Beyond retirement age, he continues to work more than full time hours and has clearly shown how a leading academic can put his clinical knowledge to practical use and carry out public health policies that have saved, and will continue to save, many thousands of lives worldwide. His superlative career-long commitment and dedication to public health is unprecedented.
Action on Sugar also came Highly Commended as the best Public Health and Awareness Raising Campaign. To find out more, please click here.
List of other awards and winners:
Best reduction of sugar through reformulation
Winner – Kettle Foods for Metcalfe’s Skinny Popcorn
Highly Commended – Oppo Icecream
Most innovative reduction of sugar through supply chain
Winner – Subway UK and Irelan
Highly Commended – Compass Group
Best new low/no sugar product
Winner – On the Move Ltd, Real Good Ketchup
Highly Commended – Friesland Campino – Yazoo Milk
Best Research in sugar reduction or sugar alternatives
Winner – Appetite & Obesity Group, University of Liverpool
Highly Commended – Obesity Research, UCL
Best Public Health/Raising Awareness Campaign
Winner – Food Teacher’s Community Centre
Highly Commended – Action on Sugar and Food Active
Best small company innovation in sugar reduction
Winner – Tg Green Teas
Sugar Reduction Hero
Winner – Graham MacGregor, Action on Sugar
Highly Commended Jamie Oliver, Jamie Oliver Food Foundation
