The certification ensures the more than 6,000 school meals being served daily are good for pupils’ health, the environment and the local economy. The council becomes one of 17 Scottish local authorities to hold the certification for its school meals service.
The council previously held the Food for Life Served Here bronze certification for its school meals service from 2017 to 2021. Food for Life Scotland have supported Renfrewshire’s catering term to deliver school meals that meet the FFLSH bronze certification standards.
Pupils enjoy freshly made dishes including spaghetti bolognese, Tex-Mex chicken enchiladas and creamy cauli mac ‘n’ cheese. The menu shows a commitment to Scottish ingredients with QMS meat sourced from McLays, Scottish milk sourced from Muller and Scottish bread from McGhees all on the menu.
Seonaid O'Neil, lead facilities manager for Renfrewshire Council, said: “We worked with the Soil Association Scotland throughout the process to develop our menu to include tasty, nutritious and sustainable options which encourage pupils to be more adventurous with their meal choices.
“Providing access to new and varied food items and working to increase the knowledge of how the food we serve also supports Renfrewshire Council ambition for net zero targets has been a positive outcome. We will continue to review which further changes can be made to progress our current bronze status to silver.”
Renfrewshire Council’s catering teams ensure that a minimum of 75% of dishes are freshly prepared from unprocessed ingredients. Meals are also free from undesirable trans fats, sweeteners and additives. The school meals use free range eggs, higher welfare meat and ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.
Sarah Duley, head of food at Soil Association Scotland, added: “Gaining the Food for Life Served Here bronze certification is a huge achievement that shows the commitment of caterers to providing pupils with a hot, nutritious meal made with fresh, local and sustainable ingredients.
“That Renfrewshire Council have chosen to return to the scheme demonstrates the value of the certification as a framework for councils looking to support Scotland’s food businesses, deliver on their Good Food Nation requirements and offer healthy and sustainable meals to their young people. Congratulations to all involved.”