December 2006
SCHOOL FOOD
Scottish Schools are buying locally
The Scottish Executive guideline, which encourages buying more local meats, is being followed by 80% of local authorities. (Meatinfo.co.uk 08 November 2006)
Fast food needs more regulation
As part of the campaign to defeat childhood obesity, teachers' representatives, trade union chiefs and council officials told Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) that, in their view, there needs to be more regulation. (IC Scotland, 16 November 2006)
Scottish food industry confront junk food ban
Scottish food companies have attacked the Scottish Executive plan to ban junk food from all schools, by stating that there is nothing wrong with kids having the occasional unhealthy as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. (The Guardian, 22 November 2006)
Scottish Schools meal uptake falls because of queues
Children in schools are not having school lunches because of long queues and poor service according to a study by the Scottish Executive. And even though children know which food is healthy and unhealthy, some still choose the unhealthy options, although this can be changed with an effective reward system. (BBC News Scotland, 28 September 2006)
Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver is reported to blame working mothers for moving from the kitchen to the workplace and not taking the time to cook nutritious meals at home and contributing to losing our food culture. He has also started to teach cooking lessons on the internet. (Daily Mail, November 2006)
The Jamie Oliver “backlash”?
Conservative MP Boris Johnson (shadow Education Minister) appeared to join the protest against Jamie Oliver, saying that there is to much pressure on children to eat healthily, "I say let people eat what they like." (Daily Mail – give date). MP Robert Goodwill is also reported as being against the government labeling all chips as junk food. (Scarborough Evening News, November 2006).
Cambridge Catering Services (CCS) claims Jamie Oliver's high-profile school meals campaign has pushed its finances into the red, with sales down by 12% and now £476,000 in debt. BBC News (date?) claimed that 59% of local education authorities have seen a drop in uptake since the introduction of the Nutritional Standards for School Meals in September. The new standards remove chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks, and meals high in salt or fat.(Teachingtimes November 2006)
Soil Association challenges the Jamie backlash
"Contrary to the BBC's findings, we've seen that schools that have involved pupils and parents in changing meals for the better – and switched to ingredients that are fresh, local and where possible organic - are actually seeing uptake rise, not decline," said Soil Association Food for Life coordinator Joanna Collins, on date? In Essex, 25 schools that serve wholesome, local and organic meals have seen an average increase in uptake by 38 per cent in one month. The School Food Trust (the government organisation to improve school food) predicted that the decreases would be temporary, and uptake would rise again once children got used to the different food. (CEE-Foodindustry.com 7 November 2006)
The Soil Association criticizes UK government over pesticides in school food
The Soil Association has criticised the UK government for being complacent about the amount of pesticides found in fruits and vegetables in schools, which is 'broadly similar' to levels found in supermarket produce. (The Green Giude, November 2006),
OTHER NEWS
17 million hospital food meals go to waste.
“One in 10 hospitals meals is thrown away untouched” and it is not always because people dislike the food. A common problem is that some hospital staff do not provide patients with the support they need, for example, blind patients are not told what is on their plates, and those that can’t chew food easily are not getting their food pureed. (The Observer, 9 October, 2006)
Leisure centres should serve less junk food
The Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Nicol Stephen, has said that all organisations funded with public money, such as leisure centres, should serve more locally produced, healthy food and less junk food. (Scotsman, 27 September, 2006)
Welsh government organisations are choosing local food
In Wales almost ¼ of the food and drink purchased by the public sector now comes from local producers. The report shows that the amount of food sourced within Wales by the nation's public bodies has increased from just 18 per cent in 2003 to 24 per cent in 2005.(Adfero, 06 November 2006)
Non-UK milk for UK menus?
Sir Stuart Hampson, Chairman of Waitrose, believes that milk will soon not be a viable sector for farming in the UK, leading to significant milk imports over the next 5 years. Low prices are making it unfeasible for dairy farmers to stay in business. (The Telegraph, 10 November 2006 )
Questions over 'free range' eggs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has suggested up to 30 million eggs may be incorrectly classed as free range. During November? three people in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, were arrested in relation to alleged breaches of egg marketing rules. (Defra, 16 November 2006)
Soaring organic sales cause shortages
Soaring demand for organic food across the globe, with revenues from expected to hit $40 billion (£21.2 billion), is causing product shortages in some countries, particularly the North American region and several European countries. Organic meat and dairy products were most seriously affected by undersupply. Most sales were in affluent countries such as Switzerland, the US and Singapore, whereas the largest increases in organic food production were in poorer countries in areas like Asia and Africa. (Organic Monitor November 2006)
Rural Social Enterprise 2006 - Fare Shares
The key theme of the 2006 National Rural Social Enterprise Conference (held on 22nd and 23rd November 2006) was rural social enterprise and local food. There are now numerous examples of social enterprises which help to link food producers and consumers in their locality and the conference explored how good practice from these examples can be shared and replicated more extensively. (Plunkett.co.uk November 2006)
October 2006
SCHOOL FOOD
School Meals Survey
The first official survey since Jamie Oliver launched his School Dinners campaign seems to show that school meals are getting healthier but that fewer children are eating them. It seems a spate of ""negative publicity"" stemming from Mr. Oliver’s television series last year exposing ""junk"" food in schools has prompted some parents to spurn the dinners, school caterers claim. The second biggest reason, identified in a survey by the government-sponsored School Food Trust, was children changing to packed lunches or local take-aways
For the full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/14/nmeals14.xml
School Meals Now Better
A new survey of 74 English Local Education Authorities by the Soil Association shows that in schools where the quality of the food has already been transformed, uptake of school meals has risen dramatically. The research also revealed that, overall, not enough money is being spent on ingredients to meet the standards recommended by the Department of Education’s School Meals Review Panel. The survey shows spending on ingredients for primary school meals has increased from 47p in 2005 to just 51p in 2006, with some still spending as little as 41p per child per meal. Soil Association’s Policy Director, Peter Melchett commented, “This falls short of the 70p needed if reasonable nutritional standards are to be met”. See this link.
Spending on School Meals
The amount of money spent on ingredients for school meals needs to increase to GBP0.70 in primary schools and GBP0.80 in secondary schools to comply with new food standards, stated Suzi Leather, then chair of the School Food Trust, in an interview with The Sunday Times. Mrs. Leather also mentioned problems with the low nutritional value of the average packed lunch, and the way that schools inspect the content of school lunchboxes in their efforts to promote healthy eating. See http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2092-2271749.html
SUPERMARKETS
Marks & Spenser Most Ethical and Environmentally Conscious Retailer
Marks & Spencer is now Britain's most ethical and environmentally conscious retailer, according to campaigners for Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. M&S sales of ""fair trade"" cotton T-shirts, coffee and fruit, organic cotton baby clothes, phasing out GM animal feed, and selling ocean-friendly fresh fish means they have outstripped larger competitors. See http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1090185.ece
Waitrose Launch ‘Ugly’ Fruit Range
Waitrose has announced plans to launch a line of discounted ‘ugly’ fruit. The seasonal ‘class two’ produce, that will be either flawed or oddly shaped, will be marketed for use in cookery and jam-making. Waitroase stated that the initiative is designed to save on wastage while offering a price deal to its customers. See http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/06/22/95569/Producer+praise+for+Waitrose.htm
Supermarkets Tackle Trans Fats
From January 2007 trans fats will be removed from all Sainsbury's 15,000 own-brand products. The retailer is also removing all artificial flavour enhancers by January following recent scientific evidence indicating that trans fats raise cholesterol and are linked to cardiovascular disease. Earlier this year Marks and Spencer banned the fats from its products, whilst Waitrose is also removing them from many products. An article in the Guardian reports that Tesco is to ban trans fats from its own-brand products by the end of this year. According to the Biscuit, Cake, Chocolate and Confectionery Association, manufacturers are reducing the trans fat content of processed foods. Daily Mail (July 31)
Supermarket Organic Sales Rise
Supermarket sales of organic produce increased by 31% from last year, with supermarkets sourcing 66% of organic primary produce from the UK - a 13% increase since 2004. Independent shop, farm shop, farmers' market and box scheme sales also increased by 32% since 2004, with consumer research showing that 52% of organic consumers would prefer to shop at smaller, local suppliers. After North America, Europe has the largest market for organic food and drink in the world. Within Europe, the UK has the third biggest market after Germany and Italy.
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/psweb.nsf/B3/market_information.html
OTHER NEWS
Government Pledges Improved Sustainable Procurement
The UK government aims to become a leader in sustainable procurement in Europe by 2009, pledging to improve the way the Government buys its goods and services and runs its offices, stated Environment Secretary David Miliband. The pledge came in response to Procuring the Future - The National Action Plan for the Sustainable Procurement Task Force (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/), launched on 12 June 2006, and should include construction, food, furniture, textiles, and transport. Daily Telegraph (20 June)
Increase in ‘Food Miles’
UK food transport has caused an increase in CO2 emissions according to new DEFRA figures. Food transported by air - mainly fresh fruit and vegetables - accounted for only 0.1% of total food miles, but generated 13% of total food transport CO2 emissions. CO2 generated by road and air “food miles” increased 6% in 2004 to nearly 18 million metric tons. Bosses from the big four supermarkets were recently summoned by Environment Secretary David Miliband to demand they work harder to make their businesses more environmentally friendly.
http://www.nworganiccentre.org/web/nwoc/nwoc.nsf/
Organic Market Growth
A growth in organic sales and business confidence was confirmed by the Soil Association annual report on the state of the global, European and UK organic market. A three-fold growth was recorded in 2005 compared to the previous year, with an increase of 30% to total almost £1.6 billion in sales. That averages an extra £7 million a week, compared to the annual current growth for all UK food and drink sales of around 3%. The numbers and range of people buying organic food have also grown, with two out of three consumers now knowingly buying organic food (65.4%) and over half of people in the most disadvantaged social groups (C2, D and E) now buying organic food and drink. See http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/psweb.nsf/B3/market_information.html
Fair Trade Sales
Sales of Fair Trade goods in Britain reached £195m in 2005, a 40% increase on the year before, according to Fair-trade Foundation figures, making Britain the biggest market for fair-trade goods in terms of volume. The Fair-trade Foundation said the number of retailers offering certified goods had grown in 2005 by 300 to 1,483. Meanwhile, globally sales of fair-trade-certified goods in 2005 grew by more than a third to £758m, with 508 certified producer groups in 58 countries. See http//business.guardian.co.uk.story/01807372,00.html
Ethical Consumerism
Market analysts claim that a trend dubbed “ethical consumerism” is now big business, marking a retail revolution. An Institute for Grocery Distribution report states that shoppers are increasingly prepared to pay a premium for high-quality organic, free-range or fair trade products, with ethical consumerism now worth £25 billion a year in Britain. The trend is so great that Britain has been chosen to host the world’s largest organic store, which will open within months in West London. The arrival of the US organics chain Whole Foods looks set to accelerate the expansion of ethical shopping. For the full article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,170-2273353,00.html
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
‘Selling to the public sector’ Defra
This new guide explains how farmers and growers can take advantage of opportunities to supply food to the public sector, either directly or indirectly, via the supply chain of a primary supplier. The guide includes short case studies showing how small and local producers have worked successfully with the public sector. The guide is available on
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/sellingpublic.html
‘Technical guide for suppliers wishing to supply the public sector’, The Government Office for the East Midlands
The guide provides advice on topics such as marketing to the public sector, HACCP, hygiene, microbiological testing and industry standards. The guide is on the PSFPI web site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/sellingpublic.htm.
‘Unlocking opportunities: lifting the lid on public sector food procurement’, Defra
The leaflet provides buyers with a bird's eye view of the PSFPI, and has been amended to take account of changes to the URLs on Defra's web site. It appears on the ""Raising Awareness"" page on the PSFPI web site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/awareness.htm.
‘Going public – an introduction to supplying the public sector’, Soil Association
This new technical guide looks at the opportunities for farmers and growers to supply organic produce to the public sector, including schools, hospitals and other government bodies. Questions considered include - how realistic is it for organic suppliers, where do they start, what are the real opportunities, and is it worth considering? Available from www.soilassociation.org/.../7fd353f6ec5bd28b80256f430031e0e3/$FILE/bulletin_august_2006.pdf
‘Smart productivity: securing sustainable development in the English regions’, the Regional Development Agencies
The booklet demonstrates how investment in environmentally friendly development can contribute to long term economic growth, environmental sustainability and social inclusion. See http://www.eeda.org.uk/
‘Real Choice: How local foods can survive the supermarket onslaught’, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE)
The report is the result of an eight-year study by Lady Caroline Cranbrook in East Suffolk. It highlights the many benefits of local 'food webs', identifies the need for policies to support and develop them, and clarifies the role these webs play in safeguarding the character of local landscapes & habitats, and in sustaining rural communities. Copies available at : http://www.cpre.org.uk/news-releases/news-rel-2006/24-06.htm
'Forward Look', Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs
The report sets out the key areas that will be taken forward as part of the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy. These include improving the environmental performance of farming, and sustainable consumption and production. Supporting economic and statistical analyses, details of the indicators used to measure progress, and The Final Report of the Implementation Group have also been published. See http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/index.htm
‘Best practice in public sector food procurement’, Food Links UK
This best-practice report reviews supply chain models, schools issues, contract preparation and suggests who needs to do what. The report, commissioned by Food Links UK, funded by Defra, and researched by f3 – the local food consultants, focuses on sustainable food chains in the public sector. See http://www.localfood.org.uk/library.htm
WEBSITES
UK Public Procurement Portal
A new business portal - http://www.supply2.gov.uk/ – now advertises over 7,000 Government contracts, as well as having 10,000 suppliers registered on the site. The portal removes some of the barriers faced by many small businesses trying to get public sector contracts. It also gives businesses the opportunity to bid for lower-value public sector contracts from central and local Government. Lower-value contracts can be publicized free of charge by UK public sector organizations. Businesses will be able to view such contracts in a single place, while contract information in a business' chosen location will be available free of charge. The new portal was developed from a report authored by the Better Regulation Taskforce and the Small Business Council. Visit http://www.supply2.gov.uk/ and register for free.
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) website recent additions:
Two new web sites have been created to give information about grants and funding schemes for farmers, rural organisations and businesses, voluntary organisations and community sector. See under ""Funding"" on the Regions page at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/regions.htm
April 2006
NEWS
Hospital food
A reward scheme that offered children in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, vouchers for McDonald’s has been withdrawn. The vouchers were given out on an occasional basis to youngsters who had been ""brave"" undergoing treatment. For the full article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4787074.stm
One of Scotland’s leading coronary heart disease experts, Paul MacIntyre, has observed that hospitals are giving the wrong message by selling unhealthy, “poisonous” snacks in canteens and foyer shops. He has reacted by setting up a fruit stall in the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, where he is a consultant. See: http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=508862006
Two chefs managing the kitchen at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, US, are adding organic vegetables to the menu. See http://www.glrc.org/story.php3?story_id=2983 for details.
Nutritional standards in care homes
On 6th March the Minister with responsibility for care, Liam Byrne, set out steps being taken to ensure that the national minimum standards of nutrition for older people in care homes, as outlined in Care Homes for Older People – National Minimum Standards and Care Homes for Adults – National Minimum Standards, are being properly implemented. Souce: Hansard (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060306/text/60306w35.htm)
Fish
Young’s Seafood have launched a new line of sustainably-caught cod, becoming the first company to complete a deal for Alaskan line-caught Pacific cod to be supplied to the UK market, following certification of the fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). See: http://www.msc.org/html/ni_210.htm.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is urging consumers to avoid eating endangered fish species, such as skate, and supermarkets to stop selling them. However, British fish processors are challenging the proposals claiming that the MCS stance could be very damaging for their businesses. See: http://www.mcsuk.org/
World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on GM
The WTO ruled in February that any European ban on GM imports contravened the rules of free trade. However, Friends of the Earth, having acquired a leaked confidential WTO report, claim that the WTO did not rule on two of the most important questions before it, namely whether GM foods are effectively the same as non-GM foods, and if they are safe. The pressure group has launched an online action calling on the governments to reject the WTO as a forum to decide on what it calls ""environmental trade disputes"". See: http://www.bite-back.org/.
Food labelling and Europe
On 5th March, Italy made country-of-origin labelling mandatory on some tomato products as part of a trend towards making it harder for foreign food products to enter its market. Source: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=66382&m=1FNU315&c=hxzkwbvbrvoensm
On 13th March, the European Commission reopened debate on harmonising and increasing legislation on food labelling across the bloc. The EU’s Directorate General for Health and Consumer Protection (SANCO) noted that member states have tended to favour regulation on harmonising labelling provisions in the bloc, although the move could lead to greater costs for businesses, especially small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). SANCO will consider alternatives to legislation and suitable presentation of labels, including use of logos. Source: http://www.confectionerynews.com/news/ng.asp?n=66367-labelling-nutrition-sanco
FOOD IN SCHOOLS AND CHILD CARE CENTRES
Education and Inspection Bill
The controversial Education and Inspection Bill, was published on 28th February. Government says it includes measures to support stronger partnership, new curriculum entitlements, better discipline and a powerful strategic role for local authorities. It also paves the way for new minimum food-based standards to be introduced in all schools by this September and nutrient-based standards from 2008. See: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0018
School Food Trust’s advice on standards for school food other than lunch
On 2nd March, the School Food Trust announced recommendations for nutritional standards for food offered across the school day, other than at lunch, including through vending machines, break times, breakfast clubs, after school clubs and tuck shops. The recommendations, out for consultation during March, include: no confectionery to be sold in schools; no bagged savoury snacks other than nuts and seeds without added sugar or salt; a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables to be made available; children to have access to fresh free chilled water at all times; and only bottled water, low fat milk, pure fruit juices, yogurt and milk drinks with less than five per cent sugar, tea and coffee to be available. See http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/images/downloads/nonlunch.pdf
School Meals and Snacks (Scotland) Bill
Frances Curran MSP has put forward a final proposal for a Bill to provide free school meals, water and milk in all local authority primary schools in Scotland; to give powers to Scottish Ministers to extend this provision to local authority secondary schools; to give powers to Scottish Ministers to regulate the sale and advertisement of consumable goods on school premises; to require Scottish Ministers to set nutritional standards for school meals and to establish a complaints procedure for pupils and parents in relation to these standards. See: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/businessBulletin/bb-06/bb-03-31g.htm
Dinner clubs
Children from deprived backgrounds could receive healthy evening meals at “dinner clubs” in Scottish schools, under an idea being considered by ministers. Health Minister Andy Kerr believes the move would reduce youngsters’ intake of sugary and fatty foods and help prevent a lifetime of poor health and sees the idea as a natural extension of breakfast clubs. Source: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=506162006
Food in childcare centres
A report issued by Ofsted on 30th March, detailed below, revealed that in 110 child centres inspected, (including crèches, nurseries, childminders and before and after-school clubs), almost all were replacing biscuits with fruit, removing crisps and providing nutritious and balanced food for young people. Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1742292,00.html
Soil Association, Food for Life programme wins BEMAs
On 23rd March, the Soil Association’s Food for Life programme won the Best Environment and Media Award’s (BEMA’s) Best Environment Campaign for raising awareness about the state of school meals. For details contact Victoria Record on 0117 0974580, vrecord@soilassociation.org .
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI) website recent additions:
A new page to help catering units improve their environmental performance. See: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/envperform.htm.
New advice entitled, ‘How procurement managers can make the nation’s lot a healthier and more prosperous one and gain some recognition in the process’. Practitioners trying to encourage public bodies to procure more sustainable food may find this helpful. See: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/psfpi-procure.pdf.
The Catering Services and Food Procurement Toolkit has been revised to include a new model specification clause on farm assurance standards for unprocessed commodities and lightly processed food and drinks. See: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/toolkit.htm.
‘Smarter food procurement in the public sector’, The National Audit Office
The NAO has investigated the way hospitals, schools, the Armed Forces and other public-service canteens spend money on food and drink. They found a large variation in the prices paid by the canteens for their stock and conclude that canteens were failing to negotiate best prices, even though lower priced goods were relatively easy to find, and as a result were wasting GBP220m each year. The report, available on http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/05-06/0506963_I.pdf , shows how public sector bodies can maintain or improve the quality of the meals they serve while controlling or reducing their costs. A guide on best practice and case studies are also available via the PSFPI web page, http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/nao-smarterfood.htm.
‘Serving Time: Prisoner Diet and Exercise’, The National Audit Office
The NAO has found that significant improvements have been made in HM Prison Service’s catering arrangements resulting in financial savings and improved quality of service. Since 2003-4, savings of some £2.5 million have been made each year from expenditure on food and some £1.7 million a year on catering staff. It claims that, on the whole, food offered to prisoners is in line with the Government’s recommendations on healthy eating. However, average levels of salt are up to 93% more than recommended levels and offerings of dietary fibre are low. Prisoners’ meals rely heavily on convenience foods, such as pies, burgers, tinned food and frozen vegetables, with little use of seasonal produce. The report is available on http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/05-06/0506939.pdf
‘Healthy eating in schools’ and ‘Food technology in secondary schools’, Ofsted
The first report focuses on the standard of school meals. It concludes that the standard of meals has improved but that school lunch periods are often so short that pupils do not have time to make healthy eating choices or develop the social and personal skills associated with eating together. Also, most secondary schools are still offering high-fat options in vending machines. The second report focuses on school cookery lessons and concludes that pupils are spending too much time writing and not enough time learning how to cook nutritious meals. To view the reports see: http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/pressreleases/index.cfm?fuseaction=news.details&id=1741
5 A DAY posters
Posters, similar to ones used by Leisure Connection who are currently working with the Department of Health to implement the 5 A DAY campaign, are available to order for free by calling 08701 555 455 or emailing dh@prolog.uk.com
Promoting 5 A DAY toolkits
A new toolkit, ‘How to Run a Cook ‘n’ Eat Group’ is available to download from http://www.foodandhealth.org.uk/news/5ADay/Toolkits.asp . Other toolkits available, all based on the experiences of the 5 A DAY programme in the South East, include ‘Running a Community Fruit and Veg Stall’ and ‘Working with Retailers’.
February 2006
EUROPEAN NEWS
New EU food regulations
As of 1 January 2006, 5 new pieces of EU food legislation were introduced. Failure to comply could lead to the closure of businesses. The new regulations are:
EC 178/2002 (general principles and requirements of food law, demanding traceability),
EC 852/2004 (hygiene of foodstuffs, demanding HACCP and registration),
EC 853/2004 (specific rules for foods of animal origin),
EC 854/2004 (official controls of foods of animal origin) and
EC 882/2004 (official controls to ensure verification of compliance with feed and food law).
The Forum of Private Business (FPB) has issued a guide to help food firms in the UK meet the new requirements. Source: http://www.fpb.org/Yc2xiFU.html
Europe’s soft drinks companies voluntarily ban adverting to children
In January, the Union of European Beverages Associations (Unesda) said its members, including Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Cadbury Schweppes, would stop advertising soft drinks to children under the age of twelve across the EU and pledged to provide unbranded vending machines in secondary schools. Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4646942.stm
EU proposes animal welfare labelling for food products
In January, the European Commission proposed to create a special “animal welfare” label for meat and fish products that would put more responsibilities on companies to ensure they are getting their supplies from approved sources and would help consumers make informed choices. The proposed food label is part of a five-year EU plan to promote animal welfare. Source: http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=65453&m=1FNU130&c=hxzkwbvbrvoensm
Organic farming
At the January meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, the Agriculture Commissioner presented a proposal on organic farming, which aims to simplify and improve the structure of current regulations, setting out the scope of organic production and definitions for organic food. She also presented a proposal on changes to the rules for protected geographical indications and traditional specialties for agriculture products, which need changing to comply with a WTO ruling. For details see http://ue.eu.int/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/agricult/88099.pdf .
SCHOOL FOOD
School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme (SFVS)
The total cost of the Government’s SFVS in 2005-6 is expected to be £37,354,000 compared to £28,840,000 in 2004-5. The lower costs in 2004-5 were due to incomplete roll out of the scheme. The unit cost per piece of fruit and vegetable supplied is 10p. Source: Hansard 17 January 2005, 1307SW. On 28th January the Guardian reported that the SFVS and Government 5 A DAY programme are being hit by a funding freeze with most staff contracts coming to an end in March with no certainty about future funding. The article also reports on an official evaluation that suggests the scheme has made no lasting effect on children’s consumption of healthy food. For the full article see http://politics.guardian.co.uk/publicservices/story/0,,1696885,00.html
School milk
Lord Bach, the Sustainable Food and Farming Minister, has announced that the national subsidy for school milk will be retained. The EU subsidy on school milk was reduced in 2000. Since January 2001 the UK government has provided national aid to supplement the EU subsidy with a maximum annual cost of £1.5m in England. The decision follows an economic evaluation recently commissioned by Defra which recommends ending the subsidy. The consultant’s report is available at http://statistics.defra.gov.uk/esg/evaluation/schoolmilk/default.asp .
Students design their own healthy lunch menus in the west of Scotland
Councils across the west of Scotland are giving primary and secondary children the chance to design their own schools meals as part of a bid to tempt them away from chips and burgers. Source: http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/lo/opinion/7021384.html
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Fuel for Living booklet
This recipe guide has been produced by the Department of Health following a survey which revealed that 1 in 10 young people never cook a meal for themselves because they ‘don’t know how’. The booklet provides simple and cost effective recipe ideas and tips to assist students in the kitchen and help them increase their consumption of fruit and vegetables. Available from http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/
A report on the national 5 A DAY programme in Yorkshire
This report provides details of the programme in the region in the national policy context and is available on http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/original/locally/documents/Yorkshire_and_Humber_regional_implementation_report_Oct_2005.pdf
NHS Good Corporate Citizenship Assessment Model
The model is designed to help NHS organisations improve their contribution to sustainable development by changing how they buy goods and services, manage their waste and transport, employ people etc. See http://www.corporatecitizen.nhs.uk/
Online registration tool from NetRegs
Netregs helps small businesses, including farmers, keep up-to-date with environmental legislation and offers practical advice on their environmental obligations. The tool can be found on http://www.netregs.gov.uk/netregs/1226009/?referrer=/netregs/ .
EVENTS COMING UP
The future of public sector catering, and how this will affect you and your business, Excel, London, 22nd February
A Foodservice Consultants Society International and European Catering Association discussion event. For more information call 01483 761122 or email admin@fcsi.org.uk .
Eat local, buy local, getting local food on the menu, Lancaster, 28th February, 5-7.15pm
A free event organised by the Lancaster District Food Forum and the North West Food Alliance. For details visit http://www.nwfoodalliance.co.uk/events.php?event_id=209&events_start=&page_number.
Healthy eating in schools, making it work, York, 9th March and Salford, 27th March
Two conferences organised by Verner Wheelock Associates that will explore good practice in healthy eating in schools and share knowledge and expertise. Visit http://www.vwa.co.uk/ for details.
Celtic Nations Conference, Cardiff, 15th March, 9am-4.30pm
A conference of the Sustainable Development Commission that will show-case inspiring ideas in sustainable development from Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. For details email wales@sd-commission.org.uk or visit http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/wales/page.php/celticconf2006.html .
Investing in the future of every child: school meals, health, social capital and attainment, Hull, 23-24th March
An international conference linked to the dissemination of good practice and the evaluation of Hull City Council’s ‘Eat Well, Do Well’ initiative. Contact Jackie Lison, 01462 465988, j.lison@hull.ac.uk for details or visit www.hull.ac.uk/ces/researchandconsultancy/FreeHealthySchoolMeals.html
Healthy and Sustainable Public Food Networks in Norden, Copenhagen, 24-25th April
A conference presenting experiences from the Danish Øresund region on healthy and sustainable practices in the public food sector with Professor Kevin Morgan, Cardiff University giving the keynote speech, ‘Healthy and sustainable public food procurement – a new European agenda?’. For more details see http://www.foodture.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Filer/Aktuelt/firstAnnounce__2_.pdf
Wholesome Food Conference, Green and Away Eco-conference Centre, Glos, 11-13th August
A conference organised by the Good Garderners’ Association, Wholesome Food Association and Edcombe Farm. There will workshops and discussions ranging from how to get started in veg/meat box schemes, farm shops and farmers’ markets to how to ensure greater mineral uptake for healthy plants and human nutrition. For details visit www.wholesome-food.org.uk/conference.html.
January 2006
SCHOOL FOOD
Brakes joins Marine Stewardship Council in promoting sustainable fish in schools
From the beginning of December 2005, Brakes, the largest supplier of food to schools in the UK, joined forces with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to implement the MSC’s Fish and Kids project. Fish and Kids, funded by Defra for 3 years, aims to offer sustainable seafood choices to schools in England. As part of the project Brakes will develop new MSC-labelled products to add to its existing school meals range. For more information visit http://www.msc.org/
School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme
The latest results from the Pesticide Residues Committee’s (PRC) programme of pesticide residue testing in fruit and vegetables supplied to school children under the Department of Health’s School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme were published on 15th December. The report is available on http://www.pesticides.gov.uk/uploadedfiles/Web_Assets/PRC/SFVSsummer2005report.pdf . Out of 72 samples, 8 were free from residues, 61 contained residues within the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) and 3 contained residues above the MRL. An evaluation of the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme and its impact on the diet of children participating in the scheme was published in September 2005. The report demonstrates that children ate significantly more fruit while participating in the scheme. The full report is available on http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/.
School meals in Kirklees delivered by taxis at a cost of £25,000 per year
Kirklees Council spends more than £25,000 a year on delivering school dinners by private taxi to schools without their own preparation facilities. For more details see: http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=16517287&method=full&siteid=50060-name_page.html
School meals in Northern Ireland
The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Education and Library Boards and other school authorities, is introducing new nutritional standards for school meals in Northern Ireland. The Department has provided additional funding to support the initiative which will mostly be used to raise the food and nutritional content value of school meals to 50p in primary schools, and 60p in post-primary, in line with developments in England. Source: Hansard 24 November 2005, 2194W
School food in Scotland
HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) published a report, Monitoring and Implementation of Hungry for Success: A Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland which looks at progress with the programme in 33 primary schools and 6 special schools between December 2004 and June 2005. Most of the schools inspected have adopted health education programmes and most local authorities have been developing menus that meet the Scottish Nutrient Standards for School Lunches using the H4S nutrient analysis software. HMIE suggests that more work is needed to ensure that pupils are encouraged to make healthier choices. To view the full report visit http://www.hmie.gov.uk/. Plans are now underway to extend implementation of Hungry for Success across all secondary schools by December 2006.
The Scottish Centre for Social Research also surveyed around a quarter of all Scottish primary schools and all local authorities to assess the success or otherwise of the free fresh fruit scheme (part of the Hungry for Success initiative). 90% of those surveyed reported that giving primary one and two pupils free fresh fruit was improving youngsters’ eating habits and 60% said that pupils were eating more fresh fruit and vegetables at lunchtime as a result of the scheme. For more information see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/12/28144352
OTHER NEWS
Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative (PSFPI)
The PSFPI continues to receive a good press with, for example, Jonathon Porritt referring to the ""excellent work already achieved through the public sector food procurement initiative"" in his article ""Hard to Swallow"" in The Guardian on 4 January: http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,,1677089,00.html. Defra's Food Procurement Unit is grateful to all those engaged in taking the initiative forward within the public and voluntary sectors and farming and food industries. More information has been added to the PSFPI web site including some new case studies. If you know of any initiatives that have been undertaken to improve catering within public bodies or to develop the supply side to them, please send a case study to roger.hinds@defra.gsi.gov.uk. An advice note is given at the top of the ""case studies"" page at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/casestudies/index.htm
Prison food
The National Audit Office (NAO) is currently undertaking a study of catering and physical exercise within prisons. The study includes research that shows that the average public sector Prison Service daily food cost per prisoner for 2004-5 was £1.85. Prisons are required to meet the minimum nutritional standards as laid down in Prison Service Order 5000 (Catering Manual) but there is no set financial formula that prisons are required to follow on the cost of each meal. Source: Hansard 12th December 2005, 1714-5W
Hospital food
The results of the Publication of Patient Environment Action Team (PEAT) survey, 2004-5 show an overall improvement in the standard of cleanliness and food in the NHS with more patients feeling that the meals were acceptable. However, 47.2% patients reported that they felt hospital food was either good or excellent in 2005 compared to 58.4% in 2004. Further information is available at
http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=181093&NewsAreaID=2
Food and older people in care
Paul Burstow and Bob Rusell have tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) drawing attention to research by the European Nutrition for Health Alliance, which indicates a prevalence of malnutrition in older people in care homes at 60-100%. The EDM also calls for nutritional standards for older people in all care settings equivalent to those announced for school children. The full text of the EDM, which has been signed by 51 MPs, is available at: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=29549&SESSION=875
New US law allowing American schools to sell milk anywhere at any time will force changes to exclusivity contracts between schools and soft drink firms
The new law is intended to ban the exclusive deals some schools have with soft drink companies and to encourage the sale and marketing of 100% fluid milk in schools. Schools must make the necessary changes to their supply contracts with soft drinks firms by the beginning of the 2006-7 school year. For more information visit http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=64478 .
Organic products introduced in US hospitals
St. Luke’s hospital, Duluth is the first health system in Minnesota to buy hormone-free milk, and organic pork, vegetables, fruit and dairy for its kitchens. Other hospitals and schools on the west and east coasts are already doing the same. Some hospitals also organise farmer’s markets for their staff as a way to introduce them to organic and local foods. For more details visit http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/local/13412048.htm .
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Growing the Future conference report
A report by Growing the Future / Tyfu’r Dyfodol on their conference last year that discussed organic and local food in school meals and education. The report includes summaries of the main presentations and is available from http://www.organic.aber.ac.uk/schoolsnet/conference/GTFSept05.pdf
Transatlantic public food project - Food for Health, Learning and Livelihoods (F4H)
On 2nd December 2005, a seminar was held in Paris to discuss the F4H project and to share experiences on sustainable food procurement across Europe and the USA. Participants from Italy, France, Denmark, UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, the WHO, Marine Stewardship Council and the USA were present. Copies of presentations and a summary of the event will be available on http://www.alimenterra.org/ by the end of January, and details of the project are available from cpeckham@alimenterra.org.
Elliot Morley’s speech at the third Sustainable Procurement Task Force meeting, 5th December 2005
His speech is available on http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/speeches/em051205.htm and includes the message that “Value for Money policy and Efficiency Review need not present a barrier to sustainable procurement. Public sector purchases should always award contracts on the basis of Whole Life Costing and quality”.
DEFRA publishes its sustainable development action plan, 15th December 2005
Action in the plan include a sustainability audit of key policies, a full review of energy management of the Defra estate and an open meeting for Management Board members to be questioned on Defra’s progress with the action plan. The action plan also refers to Defra’s Sustainable Procurement Strategy, Sustainable Procurement Toolkit, and training framework addressing sustainable procurement. More information can be obtained on www.defra.gov.uk/environment/sustainable/action-plan.htm .
EVENTS COMING UP
All Party Parliamentary Food and Health Forum meeting, 10th January 2006, 6pm
Discussing children’s food, including diet in children’s early years, school food and children’s food outside the school environment. Speakers include Dr Helen Crawley on nutrition based standards for school food and Charlie Powell on Sustain’s Children’s Food Bill. For more details contact patricia.constant@centrallobby.com, 020 7222 1265.
PSFPI Regional Suppliers Workshops - Spring 2006
Details of workshops that the Government Offices for the Regions are running for existing and potential suppliers of food to the public sector are on the PSFPI web site at http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/sustain/procurement/pdf/workshops-free.pdf. They are designed to provide farmers, growers and other suppliers with the chance to learn about the PSFPI and the opportunities open to producers to supply the public sector either directly or, if lacking the capacity, indirectly through primary suppliers such as wholesalers, contract caterers, regional distributors and local butchers.
Cleanmed Europe 2006, Stolkholm, May 29-30th 2006
A conference looking at ecologically sustainable health care systems, including sustainable food procurement. For more details visit http://www.cleanmed.org/
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