A LUNCHTIME diet of crisps, pies and high-fat sandwiches is killing East Lancashire's workforce and hitting company profits, health bosses have warned.

Employers are now being urged to provide staff and visitors with healthier food in a bid to increase productivity and reduce sickness.

Health bosses say that poor diet, leading to ill health and premature death from cancer, heart disease and strokes, also has a big cost implication for the NHS.

Yet many employers are failing to provide healthy food in the staff canteen, in vending machines and at meetings and conferences, according to the NHS's North West Food & Health Task Force.

It said that foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar are still the norm in workplaces.

To help employers, event and conference organisers to provide cost-effective healthy alternatives to the usual pies, pastries, crisps and chocolate biscuits, it today published a booklet, Commissioning Healthier Catering and Hospitality,' which will be made available to employers and function organisers throughout the region.

Professor John Ashton, North West regional director of public health, said: "All too often, food and refreshments at work are distinctly unhealthy with deep fried snacks and meats, crisps, pastries, white bread sandwiches with high-fat fillings, cakes and biscuits and very little in the way of salads or fruit.

"Employers and hosts have a role to play in promoting the health and well-being of employees, colleagues and guests by offering healthy food options.

"A healthy diet contributes to better health by reducing heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Good food is also a joy."

Angela Towers, the North West Food and Health Task Force's development manager, said: "Eating more fruit and vegetables is the second most effective way of preventing cancer, after giving up smoking, but it's not always easy to achieve a balanced diet at work."

The booklet includes advice for lunches and dinners, cold buffets and sandwiches, hot meals and desserts. It also provides advice on vending machines and food safety.

A spokesman for BAE Systems welcomed the advice, and said the firm had a number of ways in which its staff were given healthy food. He said: "The health and wellbeing of our employees is of prime importance to us."