Public Sector Sustainable Food Procurement Initiative -
Case Study: School Meal Development Initiatives(additives, salt, sugar reduction, and water and fresh fruit promotion).
Region: Bristol
Organisation: Bristol City Council
Description:
Unnecessary salt, sugar and additives in meals can have detrimental impacts on the behaviour and educational achievement of school pupils. Research has shown that food additives can cause a loss of attention, hyperactivity and a lack of ability to learn and achieve. Contract Services Catering decided to reduce all additives in school meals and to eliminate all unnecessary additives. This has included the reduction of salt and sugar in meals as well as the reduction in use of colourings and flavourings etc.
Innovative mechanisms have been devised to overcome any initial resistance to the changes. For example, drinks have been put in slightly coloured bottles rather than having the drink coloured with artificial colouring. In addition, pupils who buy a meal are given a bottle of water - this has increased the water consumption in the pupils considerably.
Figure 1. Comparison of Water Sales in Bristol Schools in July 2003 and July 2004
Figure 2. Comparison of Fruit Sales in Bristol Schools in July 2003 and July 2004
The amount of fruit consumed has also been increased over the past year. This is due to the introduction of fruit cups. These are cups that are filled with pre-chopped and peeled fruit, similar to a fruit salad, but without the extra syrup.
Benefits
- Increased health benefits for school pupils.
- Increased attention span amongst pupils.
- Increased consumption of water.
- Increased consumption of fruit.
- Decreased consumption of sugar, salt and additives.
Lessons learned during implementation
- Some changes will go un-noticed and will therefore be unchallenged by pupils. Others may need some clever marketing, e.g. coloured bottles instead of coloured drinks, to overcome initial resistance.
- Pupils are keen to eat fruit when it is made easy for them and there is a greater variety of fruit available.
Future developments
Plastic recycling for the bottles will shortly be introduced into all the schools in order to minimise waste and environmental impact.
Further information
For further information please contact:
Sue Burke,
Contract Services,
Bristol City Council,
Sandy Park Road,
Brislington,
Bristol
0117 9036267
sue_burke@bristol-city.gov.uk
Sustainable City Team,
CREATE Centre,
Bristol City Council,
Bristol,
BS1 6XN
0117 9224472
sustainable_city@bristol-city.gov.uk
Page last modified:
23 September 2005
Page published: 8 June 2004