Barnsley Council school catering service awarded bronze Food for Life Catering Mark
Barnsley Council’s school catering service has become the first catering provider in the area to achieve the bronze level Food for Life Catering Mark awarded by the Soil Association.
Part of the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) directorate, the council’s catering service provides healthy, nutritious meals to 55 of Barnsley’s primary schools, children’s centres and nurseries.
Cllr Tim Cheetham, said: “The achievement of gaining the bronze level Catering Mark, demonstrates the CYP&F Catering Service’s commitment to providing Barnsley children with healthy, nutritious food, made from fresh ingredients. All the service’s school meals are based on healthy eating and nutrient standards set by the government.
“The Catering Mark is recognised across the industry as helping to drive up food preparation standards in schools, hospitals, care homes, workplaces, universities, nurseries and visitor attractions.”
The award ensures that 75% of menus are made from fresh ingredients, freshly prepared at each kitchen and sourced from the region’s producers. It demonstrates that menu choices are seasonal and provide for all dietary needs.
Manager Karen Stinson added: “At Barnsley primary schools served by the CYP&F catering service pupils can choose between a hot two-course meal, a vegetarian option where requested, and salad bar.
“Some schools also offer deli-style sandwiches, wraps, salad or pasta pots, together with jacket potatoes, hot pasta and sauce. Our meals are produced on site by fully trained cooks.
“Wherever possible, we source our ingredients locally – bread is supplied by a baker at Stairfoot, meat is quality assured from local farms, and free-range eggs are from Yorkshire. In season, fruit and vegetables are sourced from farms in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, including potatoes from Goldthorpe and salad ingredients from Wakefield.”
The Soil Association’s Food for Life Catering Mark is awarded as an independent endorsement to recognise a company’s efforts in improving the food they serve.