The menu, planned and designed by catering partner Chartwells, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, was given the highest standard after meeting a required set of criteria.
Cllr Bob Standley (above), the council’s lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disability, said: “Children who eat better, learn better and it’s great to see the efforts being made by our staff and contractors to serve up the healthiest meals possible are being acknowledged.
“The gold standard means parents can be confident their children are being served meals made with the freshest, ethically sourced ingredients available and free from additives and excessive salt and sugar.”
Previously accredited bronze, the menu, which covers 136 primary schools in the county, achieved the top mark by proving the following-
• At least 75% of dishes are freshly prepared
• At least one meal a week is meat free
• A minimum of 15% of food purchases are from an accredited organic source
• All meat served comes from farms which satisfy UK animal welfare standards
• No genetically modified ingredients are used
• All bananas and sugar are Fairtrade
• More than 70% of food served is sourced in the UK
• Only free-range eggs are used,
• Fish is always Marine Conservation Society approved