Catering team receives gold award

The team from Cheshire East Council that provides meals to more than 100 schools has received a gold award.

This means that children in Cheshire East are eating food every day that meets the highest possible standards of the ‘food for life’ catering mark awarded by the Soil Association.

The gold catering mark measures every penny spent on ethical, environmentally-friendly and local ingredients and recognises healthy menus where at least 15 per cent of ingredients are organic.

The Council’s 400-strong catering staff prepare and cook more than 15,000 school meals a day in more than 100 schools across the Borough with flexible menus that cater for all tastes.

The Council’s catering team delivers meals at a competitive price while remaining committed to making a vital contribution towards providing a healthy diet for the Borough’s schoolchildren.

Councillor Liz Durham, Cabinet member for children and families, said: “My mother was a great school cook and and I have always championed the importance of a high standard of food in schools. In my 25-year career as a school governor, it is something that I have made and will continue to make a top priority.”

“A nutritious meal is so important to the health and academic performance of our children, enabling them to eat well and helping to ensure that they are able to achieve more.

“This gold award recognises all the hard work of the team in promoting the pleasure of growing, cooking and eating food prepared from fresh, sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients.”

“I wholeheartedly congratulate them on their achievement in placing good nutrition and the health of our children at the heart of their service.”

Evidence from the Food for Life Partnership shows that schools serving catering mark meals can expect to see a significant increase in school meal take-up.

For more information about Cheshire East Council’s catering service, visit: fresh catering services.