Food for Life at Bury schools

Bury Catering – Bury Council’s school dinner service – has achieved a Food for Life Served Here Bronze Award from the Soil Association for serving healthy and sustainable meals.

The award recognises caterers who are serving meals that go beyond meeting the School Food Standards (nutritional guidelines) and ensure that children are being served meals that are not only delicious but also good for health, nature and the climate.

Bury Catering provides 16,000 healthy and sustainable meals every school day as part of the Bury Climate Plan, and employs 270 local staff across 58 primary, secondary and special schools. There are menus for diabetics, a gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian and vegan menu and other special diets, and the food is completely nut free. It also satisfies the multi-cultural requirements of each school.

Councillor Tahir Rafiq, cabinet member for corporate affairs and HR, said: “It is vital that children are eating healthy meals in school, especially given the cost of living and rising price of food.

“We are delighted that the quality of our school meals has been recognised by the Soil Association, and that our young people are getting the nutrition they need for their growing and learning.”

For more details about school meals and sample menus, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10417

Sharon Jarvis, senior catering operations manager, said: “Despite the problems caused by the Covid pandemic and rising food costs, the kitchen staff and management were determined to prove the quality of our ingredients and service to our schools and parents. We are thrilled to have been awarded Food for Life bronze – it means a lot to us.”

Ruth Galpine, associate director for healthy and sustainable diets at the Soil Association, said: “Food for Life Served Here caterers are leading the way in improving food culture in schools. Achieving a Food for Life Served Here Award is a fantastic accomplishment and a true reflection of a caterer’s commitment to serving school meals that are nutritious as well as tasty. We know that good food is a crucial part of the school day and, with fresh, healthy meals being served, students are equipped with the fuel they need for their learning and development.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 7 December 2022.

Picture: Sharon Jarvis (right), senior catering operations manager, and Susan Mahon, kitchen manager, at St Andrews in Radcliffe.

Notes to editors:

Bury Catering is a specialist foodservice provider for children with a passion for quality, service and value which has retained its current clients since 1974. Their food procurement is focused on Bury’s children enjoying a balanced school lunch and protecting the planet. They also comply with the Food Based Standards (nutritional guidelines), Government Buying Standards for public food from DEFRA, have a Good Food Charter, have also been awarded the Greater Manchester Healthier Catering Award and the Bury Sustainable Food Places Award.

• Pupils in Food for Life schools are twice as likely to consume more fruit and veg.
• Over 1.8 million Food for Life Served Here meals are served across the UK each day in early years settings, schools, further and higher education, visitor attractions, cafes and events spaces, workplaces, hospitals and care homes.
• Food for Life is part of the Soil Association, the UK’s leading food and farming charity and certification body.
• Food for Life Served Here Award holders undergo an annual independent inspection and are accredited by the Soil Association’s certification team.

The Bronze Award

• Meals contain no undesirable food additives or hydrogenated fats
• 75% of dishes are freshly prepared
• Meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards
• Eggs are from cage-free hens
• Menus are seasonal
• Training is provided for all catering staff
• No GM ingredients are used
• Free drinking water is available
• No endangered fish are served
• Information about where the food has come from is on display
• Suppliers meet food safety standards
• School caterers meet government guidelines for food and nutrition

The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by farmers, scientists, doctors and nutritionists to promote the connection between the health of the soil, food, animals, people and the environment. Today the Soil Association is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. Its Chief Executive is Helen Browning, and Chair of Trustees is Gabriel Scally.

To find out more visit www.soilassociation.org