Sustain, the umbrella group which represents organisations working for better systems of food and farming, are calling on the government to buy British for schools, hospitals, prisons and the armed forces. In the wake of last summer’s National Food Strategy Defra are due to issue a White paper this spring which should include public procurement – and Sustain want us all to harrass our MPs to ensure that procurement for public institutions focuses on British food from British suppliers.
MPs held a debate on the Food Strategy in December with cross party support many of the recommendations – including widening the eligibility threshold for free school meals and holiday food provision for children who get free school meals. Urgently needed since, as Labour MP Ian Byrne pointed out, there are now more food banks than McDonalds in the country, malnutrition has tripled since 2010, and cases of scurvy and rickets have more than doubled.
However, the debate also called, strongly backed by Sustain, for public sector procurement reform which should include a drive to buy British.
‘Currently’, as Sustain says, ‘public sector caterers are asked to follow government buying standards for food (GBSF), but are allowed to get round the rules to avoid “significant increase in costs”. They are supposed to meet higher environmental and animal welfare standards, including verifiably sustainable fish, and must promote healthier eating. Sustain estimate that only 50% of public institutions meet the current standards, and ex Government Minister Lord Vaisey has put the figure for non-compliance at 40%.’
‘This should be a win-win for the government’ they say. ‘Instead of wasting millions of pounds on bad food they could be using their massive buying power to support the British farmers working hard to meet high standards, spending more taxpayer money in rural communities and providing millions of people with healthier food.’
With about 35% of greenhouse gas emissions coming from the global food system, better public sector procurement is also an opportunity to reduce the UK’s carbon footprint.
And beware trade deals which could permit the import of foods from systems with poor animal welfare and questionable hygiene standards. Several UK supermarkets have already said that they will not stock sub-standard food; public sector caterers could be a natural avenue for this produce.
Sustain has made writing to your MP very easy. Just log in to their site where you can find your MP and send the email that they have already composed for you – or, of course, compose your own!
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