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This award is a nationally recognised mark of quality that celebrates the team's efforts to serve, healthy, sustainable and locally sourced school meals. The council serves 2,500 meals daily in three nurseries, 21 primaries, five junior highs and two secondaries.

Shetland Islands Council originally achieved the award for 31 nursery, primary and secondary schools in May 2021, becoming the first local authority in Scotland to hold the award for all their schools. The award has now been renewed across all of their education settings. 

Sarah Duley, head of food at Soil Association Scotland, said: “They have now added all of their nursery, primary and secondary schools to the award and were first local authority in Scotland to do this. We hope that all that they have achieved can be an inspiration to other local authorities across Scotland as we continue to work together to build a Good Food Nation.” 

The bronze award recognises that a minimum of 75% of dishes are freshly prepared from unprocessed ingredients. Meals are also free from undesirable trans fats, sweeteners, additives and all genetically modified ingredients. Catering teams use free range eggs, higher welfare meat and ingredients from sustainable and ethical sources.

Councillor David Sandison, chair of the Shetland Islands Council’s education and families committee, added: “Our catering staff have worked really hard to achieve this and I am proud of their dedication to ensuring pupils have access to healthy, locally sourced food. I am delighted that all of our schools and early learning centres have yet again met the criteria required to gain this prestigious award. 

“Our catering team is fully committed to providing Shetland’s children and young people with nutritious, sustainably sourced meals and they should be very proud of themselves. This is not only benefitting the children - it is supporting our local food producers along the way.”