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A new report just out highlights the London boroughs which are leading the way in promoting healthy and sustainable food within their schools and communities, showing the capital has made progress in the last two years.

Now in its third year, the ‘Good Food for London 2013’ report compares each London borough’s commitment to good food initiatives, such as improving the quality of school food through the Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark, supporting community food growing or achieving Fairtrade status.

Since the 2011 edition - which showcased 17 out of 33 boroughs serving meals to Catering Mark Standards – the report’s authors say significant progress has been made.

There are now 24 boroughs providing bronze, silver or gold Catering Mark meals in their schools. Between them they serve more than 250,000 meals which meet high standards of traceability, provenance and freshness to schoolchildren each day.

Michael Bond, Catering Mark manager, said: “It’s great to see this level of commitment from London authorities to provide trustworthy, fresh meals to school pupils.

“The Catering Mark champions British and local food producers, meaning for every £1 spent on a Catering Mark menu there is a social return on investment of more than £3 to the local community in the form of new jobs for local food producers.

“In the light of developments within the school food sector, we are looking forward to working more closely with London Boroughs through our Food for Life Partnership and Catering Mark.”

Claire Everett, Food for Life commissioning manager for London said: “This report is a fantastic indication of the steady progression towards a good food culture in London.

“These 24 boroughs are well placed to further build on their great work, through the Food for Life Partnership - an additional step towards normalising good food culture in their schools.

“The School Food Plan’s recommendation that head teachers and caterers work together to integrate the whole school approach is a key way to bring about the positive impacts on children’s health, academic achievement, and local economies.”

The report highlights the London boroughs of Merton and Islington, which it says are ‘leading by example’ in achieving high points for their participation in a number of good food schemes. They have been jointly named as London’s top ‘Good Food Boroughs’.

Merton is the third London Borough to achieve Gold through contract caterer ISS Education, and schools in Islington are receiving Silver Catering Mark Standard meals through Caterlink.

Following the launch of the School Food Plan, the report reinforces the changes which are currently taking place in school food.

The Soil Association-led Food for Life Partnership has been working closely with Local Authorities for 10 years to embed good food and food education in schools. A core part of this work is the provision of fresh, traceable meals through the Food for Life Catering Mark - advocated in the School Food Plan as the standard for which caterers should be aiming.