“We are delighted to have achieved the Soil Association’s prestigious Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark for our winter menus in all 124 primary schools throughout South Lanarkshire,” said head of facilities, waste and grounds services Stephen Kelly.
“This is an excellent achievement and I am extremely proud of the efforts the people on our staff have made to ensure the health and wellbeing of our primary school children.
“People are demanding healthier meal choices for themselves and their families and asking for reassurance about where their food comes from. We here at South Lanarkshire Council are committed to providing food that is good for our children, for our communities and for our planet.
“The Soil Association’s Catering Mark shows we are committed to providing fresh food you can trust, sourcing environmentally sustainable and ethical food, making healthy eating easier and championing local food producers.
“All of the meat on our primary school winter menus is from farms which satisfy the UK welfare standards and 75% of dishes on the menu are freshly prepared.”
The Food for Life Catering Mark is the Soil Association’s national food award which it claims is the UK’s only independent certification scheme setting standards of traceability, quality and provenance for public and private sector meals and inspecting caterers to ensure that standards are met.
South Lanarkshire is one of eight local authorities championing the Catering Mark in Scotland and as such really is leading the way for improved public sector catering.
Laura Stewart, director of Soil Association Scotland said: “South Lanarkshire Council was the first in the UK to pioneer the Food for Life Catering Mark and was awarded Bronze for their Community Meals Service earlier this year.
“I’m delighted that they have followed this up so quickly with another Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark for their primary school meals service.
“Food plays such a vital role in our health and wellbeing throughout our lives and South Lanarkshire Council has now made the commitment that not only their aged care customers, but their primary and nursery pupils too, can enjoy fresh, seasonal, healthy and tasty meals that are better for animal welfare and the environment.”