Merton and Islington were jointly named as London’s top ‘Good Food Boroughs’ in a new report published today [1], which shows nearly half of London Boroughs had made progress since the previous league table was published in 2012. Hillingdon and Lewisham were also praised for having made the most progress. Over the past year, for example, Hillingdon has started to help local food outlets serve healthier food, and Lewisham has achieved “silver” Food for Life standards [2] in its school catering.

The ‘Good Food for London 2013’ report compares London’s local authorities on their support for key good food initiatives, such as high quality school food, community food growing, improving food served by local food shops, and buying ethical food for schools and local authority canteens - including Fairtrade products, cage-free eggs and sustainable fish [2].

“In the wake of the ‘horsegate’ scandal, Londoners want to know that their boroughs are serving good food that they can trust,” said report author and London Food Link officer Ross Compton. “With our league table now in its third year, the Good Food for London maps paint an inspiring picture of progress by many London Boroughs towards better food. The maps also challenge those boroughs that are lagging behind to follow the good example set by Islington and Merton, and take more action to make it easier for their residents and visitors to eat healthier and more sustainable food.”

“This excellent report provides an informative snapshot of London’s food scene borough-by-borough, with the aim of showing the good example being set in areas such as Islington and Merton,” said Rosie Boycott, chair of the London Food Board [3], which advises the Mayor of London on issues relating to food in the capital. “In many boroughs, schoolchildren are now getting fresher, tastier and more sustainable food than last year, and tens of thousands of local residents have better access to green space for growing food. The maps are designed to share new ideas and good practice, helping other Boroughs make further improvements to help their residents eat better food. I am also very encouraged to see London Boroughs helping local businesses to serve healthier food on London’s high streets. This will improve Londoners’ health, provide good food jobs, and protect the sustainability of the food system on which we all depend.”

As well as Islington and Merton, seven more London boroughs out of 33 were praised for their good food work [5]: Camden, Enfield, Greenwich, Kensington & Chelsea, Richmond-upon-Thames, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest. Havering was also highlighted as a leader on good food buying, having helped several other boroughs to buy good food affordably through collaborative contracts.

Full report, Good Food for London 2013: Download a PDF

Borough League Table: Download a PDF

ENDS

For media enquiries, more information, images and maps, contact:
Kath Dalmeny, tel: 0203 5596 777, email: kath@sustainweb.org
Ross Compton, tel: 0203 5596 777 email: ross@sustainweb.org
 

Notes to editors

1. The Good Food for London report is published by London Food Link (www.londonfoodlink.org), a network of people and organisations working to promote healthy and sustainable food for London, with support from independent organisations that promote healthy and sustainable food, members of the London Food Board and the Chair of the London Food Board, Rosie Boycott. The Good Food for London report can be downloaded at: www.sustainweb.org/londonfoodlink/good_food_for_london_2013. London Food Link is a project of Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, a registered charity.

2. The six key food issues surveyed in the Good Food for London report are:

• Community food growing [download 2013 Community Food Growing map]: London Borough commitment to the Capital Growth campaign, backed by the Mayor of London, Sustain and the Big Lottery. Over 2,000 new community food growing spaces have already been created, with 21 Boroughs having committed to continue to support the work of Capital Growth and 20 having recognised community food growing in council planning policy. See: www.capitalgrowth.org
• Fairtrade food [download 2013 Fairtrade Food map]: Fairtrade guarantees a better income for food producers in poor countries. London Boroughs can buy and promote Fairtrade food, to help tackle global poverty, and 23 out of London’s 33 Boroughs now have Fairtrade status, making London the largest Fairtrade City in the world. See: www.fairtradelondon.org.uk
• Food for Life in schools [download 2013 Food for Life in Schools map]: The Food for Life Partnership helps schools improve food quality, education and introduce food growing, with proven benefits for children’s health and educational attainment. The Food for Life Catering Mark works with caterers to improve food standards, and 24 London Boroughs so far have achieved a Bronze Catering Mark or higher, with 3 impressively going on to achieve a Gold award: Havering, Kensington & Chelsea and Merton. See: www.soilassociation.org/cateringmark/
• Sustainable Fish City [download 2013 Sustainable Fish map]: Twenty seven London Boroughs have taken at least one significant action (12 have taken at least two) to help save marine life and ocean ecosystems. Action may include buying verifiably sustainable fish for council meals and other publicly funded institutions, and running the free Fish & Kids project to promote Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable fish in school catering. See: www.sustainablefishcity.net.
• Good Farm Animal Welfare Awards [download 2013 Animal Welfare map]: Run by Compassion in World Farming, these awards celebrate commitments by food companies and local authorities to buying higher welfare eggs, meat and dairy produce. Ten London Boroughs have achieved a Good Egg Award for using free range eggs, and one borough, Islington, is the first to receive a Good Chicken Award, adding to its existing Good Egg Award. See: www.compassioninfoodbusiness.com/awards
• Healthier Catering Commitment [download 2013 Healthier Catering map]: This initiative has been designed by environmental health teams with support from primary care trusts (PCTs), the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and the Greater London Authority. It offers practical advice to food outlets to make food healthier. The scheme is promoted by environmental health teams and PCTs, with 25 London Boroughs participating in this or something to a similar standard: www.cieh.org/healthier-catering-commitment.html

3. The London Food Board is an advisory group of independent food policy organisations and experts which oversees the implementation of The Mayor’s Food Strategy: Healthy and Sustainable Food for London, published in 2006, and to co-ordinate work and lead the debate on sustainable food issues in the Capital. Rosie Boycott is chair of the London Food Board. See: www.london.gov.uk/priorities/business-economy/working-in-partnership/london-food-board/london-food-board

4. Information is also provided in the Good Food for London report on opportunities for London Boroughs to help: tackle food poverty; improve school meals; save money by buying food collaboratively; curb fast food takeaways; promote breastfeeding; teach about good food in early years settings; provide good food for older people; help bees and other pollinators; and take a coordinated approach to providing good food.

5. London Boroughs were assessed for their involvement in the six good food schemes listed above and what they have achieved through their participation: 6.5 points were available for full participation in all 6 schemes listed, with half-marks available for showing good or excellent progress. One point is awarded for achieving the top award for a food issue; but the Food for Life Gold Award gets 1.5 points.  See: www.sustainweb.org/londonfoodlink/good_food_for_london_2013:

• “Top scorers” were Islington and Merton (both with 6 points out of a possible 6.5)
• “Making excellent progress” were Camden (5.5 points), Enfield (4.5), Greenwich (4.5), Kensington & Chelsea (4.5), Lewisham (4.5), Richmond-upon Thames (5), Tower Hamlets (5.5) and Waltham Forest (5).
• “Falling out of their previous leadership position” are Havering and Sutton.
• “Lagging behind” were Bexley (1 points), Brent (1) and Bromley (1)
• All other London Boroughs scored between 1.5 and 4.5 out of a total possible 6.5 points. Among these, Hillingdon and Lewisham were jointly praised as the “most progressed”. Over the past year, Hillingdon (which scored zero in 2012, moving up to 1.5 in 2013) has started to help local food outlets to serve healthier food, and also recognised the importance of community food growing in its council planning policy. Lewisham (which scored 3 in 2012, moving up to 4.5 in 2013) has achieved a Silver Food for Life Catering Mark, and have signed up to the Healthier Catering Commitment, to help local food outlets to serve healthier food.

10/10/2013