Council gain catering award for quality of school meals
Midlothian council has achieved the prestigious Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH ) Bronze award for its school meals service across its 28 primary schools.
Mark of quality
The certification is a nationally recognised mark of quality, which ensures that a minimum of 75% of the more than 4,000 school meals being served daily in Midlothian are:
- freshly prepared from unprocessed ingredients
- free from undesirable trans fats, sweeteners and additives
- use free range eggs and higher welfare meat
- contain ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.
Soil Association
The FFLSH programme is run by Soil Association Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government. It provides a framework through which local authorities and public sector sites can ensure they are serving good food. This is done by meeting a set of standards to achieve the FFLSH award at Bronze, Silver or Gold level.
Presentation
The award was presented to Midlothian Councillor Dianne Alexander by Lucy MacLellan, Menu and Catering Skills Officer, Soil Association Scotland, at an event at Lasswade Primary School. Pupils from the school were also in attendance.
Heathy start in life
Cllr Dianne Alexander, cabinet member with responsibility for community facilities said: “For a future healthy nation, It is very important that our children get a good heathy start in life, and I am glad to see our children are being provided with healthy nutritious meals. It is also good for our environment and local economy that we are working with local suppliers to source seasonal, Scottish produce for our school meals. Achieving this award is good for our pupils’ health, good for the environment and good for the local economy. The council will now work towards attaining the Silver level award.”
Supporting Scotland’s food businesses
Sarah Duley, Head of Food, Soil Association Scotland said: “We’re delighted to welcome Midlothian Council as the latest local authority to achieve the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award for its school meals service. This 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. Congratulations to Midlothian Council for putting more good food on school plates, supporting Scotland’s food businesses and Good Food Nation ambitions.”
Recognition
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon MSP said: “I would like to congratulate Midlothian Council for gaining the Food for Life Served Here Bronze award. This is well-deserved recognition for the work by the council’s catering teams and shows their dedication to serving high quality school meals in local schools.”