Champneys health spa accused of false cancer prevention claims over its apple crumble – Telegraph.co.uk

It is a favourite retreat of celebrities and captains of industry, attracted by its promise of pampered seclusion in a place where wellness is a way of life without fads and fallacies.

But even Champneys most dedicated customers might have been left puzzled by a claim from the luxury spa chain that its apple crumble may help reduce the risk of cancer.

That claim, along with a number of others, is now the centre of a court case which has seen the health spa chain charged with breaching several regulations governing claims about nutrition and health.

The case was due to be heard at Brighton Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after West Sussex County Council launched a prosecution against Champneys over 18 charges of breaching food safety, information, nutrition and consumer protection legislation.

The maximum penalty for the offences faced by the British chain of luxury spas is an unlimited fine and/or a sentence of up to six months in jail.

But the trial was adjourned at the last minute after neither Champneys nor West Sussex County Council's legal representatives turned up to court, leaving an irritated judge to adjourn the hearing to later this month.

Expressing her frustration at the no-show, Judge Amanda Kelly said: Im rather annoyed by counsel not turning up for this Champneys trial. There are no words.

The prosecution is being brought after council officials found that guests staying at a Champneys spa in Hampshire, were allegedly told that its apple crumble could cut the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

It is being claimed that the crumble carried a label which contained a prohibited disease risk reduction claim, along with unauthorised claims about general health and well-being.

West Sussex County Council also alleges that Champneys Forest Mere spa, in the village of Liphook, falsely claimed in a label that its black rice, quinoa and ginger salad was rich in fibre and a natural anti-inflammatory and that its hummus was high in soluble fibre and a source of beneficial phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are said to serve as a type of natural hormone replacement therapy.

Champneys, which has been a favourite of David and Victoria Beckham, Naomi Campbell and Dame Helen Mirren, as well as the late Diana Princess of Wales, also allegedly failed to tell guests about allergens in its restaurant food, including gluten, mustard, eggs and soybean.

Council officials claim that it served a Vegan Tofu Pad Thai dish which contained milk, mislabelled a Caesar Salad regarding its parmesan cheese content and failed to inform guests it had a food hygiene rating of just 2 out of 5.

The spa, where guests pay up to 230 a night, boasts on its website that it was founded in 1925 on the principle that health, beauty and wellbeing are inextricably intertwined.

Our philosophy is simple, it states. At Champneys, its all about healthy, delicious and beautiful food.

The website adds: Steering away from all the fads and fallacies, we keep things honest and enjoyable. We consider dietary requirements, health conditions, religious beliefs, intolerances and allergies providing nutritional information wherever possible.

Champneys denies all the charges. The case was adjourned until Friday, February 28.

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