Phil Shelley, chair of the Hospital Food Review, will be an advisor to the new Love British Food Hospitals Working Group alongside Alexia Robinson, founder of Love British Food, and Tim Radcliffe, facilities manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
During an interview with Love British Food, Shelley said: “Taking part in British Food Fortnight is a great way to encourage Trusts to speak to their local producers, but hospitals should be looking at purchasing British food all year round, where possible, to support local suppliers and to reduce the carbon footprint of their purchases. I hope that this working group will help trusts to achieve that.
“The main aim is to inspire more trusts to source their food locally and equip them with the knowledge and support to do so. I would like to see every NHS Trust have a relationship with at least three or four local suppliers. Ten of the most inspiring NHS Chefs have signed up to sit on the group, which is a great opportunity for them to talk about the wonderful hospital food that they serve, how they source their ingredients, what lessons they can share with colleagues.”
Love British Food has announced that the next British Food Fortnight will take place from 17 September to 2 October 2022.
British Food Fortnight celebrates the best of British cuisine across the public sector in schools, hospitals, care homes and universities. The campaign encourages people to seek out British food and drink when they are shopping or eating out.