BU's catering provider Chartwells has achieved the Soil Association’s Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark
The Food for Life Catering Mark is based on the principles that food should be fresh, local, seasonal and better for animal welfare. It means food is freshly prepared using ingredients which are free from GM and harmful additives.
This means that the food Chartwells serve is meeting standards around freshness, provenance and traceability; meaning that staff and students can eat at BU with confidence. The Catering Mark shows that Chartwells prioritise and promote healthy choices and sustainable purchasing.
Ricky King, General Manager for Catering at BU, said: “For the Chartwells team to achieve the Bronze Food for Life Accreditations is a fantastic result. Meeting the standards for traceability, integrity and good provenance with a trusted industry symbol makes us very proud and it is one of the key goals we have pledged to achieve with BU, bring on Silver standard!”
Chartwells have passed a thorough inspection by the Soil Association to show that they meet the bronze standards detailed below, and will be inspected every year so that they can show they’ve kept up the good work.
The Bronze Standard ensures:
- Meals contain no undesirable food additives or hydrogenated fats
- 75% of dishes are freshly prepared
- Meat is from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards
- Eggs are from cage-free hens
- Menus are seasonal
- Training is provided for all catering staff
- No GM ingredients are used
- Free drinking water is prominently available
- No fish are served from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) ‘fish to avoid’ list
- Information is on display about food provenance
- All suppliers have been verified to ensure they apply appropriate food safety standards