Londons vow to buy Red Tractor is boost for British produce
The Greater London Authority Groups vow to include sustainability requirements as part of its catering contracts from 2012 is a step forward in creating a lasting Olympic food legacy, says the NFU.
The Mayor, Boris Johnson, has announced plans to use the Red Tractor scheme as a minimum standard for farm produce, as well as a range of other commitments for livestock, poultry and eggs, fish and other products. He hopes the Sustainable Food Procurement Commitment will encourage other large organisations to ensure they source British produce.
NFU head of food chain unit Lee Woodger said: The Mayors commitment to creating a lasting Olympic food legacy for 2012 is a positive step for the industry and we hope other public authorities will follow his lead in introducing similar procurement policies which will use Red Tractor as a minimum standard for its farm produce.
Richard Cattell, head of marketing at Red Tractor Assurance, said: We are delighted that Red Tractor has been announced as the benchmark for food quality assurance as part of the GLA Groups future procurement strategy. Its important that our public services can trust that their food has come from traceable and responsible sources so we at Red Tractor are proud to be chosen as the means to guarantee this commitment for years to come.
The GLA Group includes the London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police and Transport for London. It will apply to all contracts by 2012 and any further contracts which are due for renewal after that.
The Sustainable Food Procurement Commitment includes:
- Food standards that require that all food is traceable to its production source, using the Red Tractor scheme at minimum for farm produce
- Free range eggs to be purchased and a proportion of chicken and pork products to be RSPCA Freedom Food certified or equivalent
- No endangered fish, as certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, shall be used, and sources will be demonstrably sustainable including certification as Fish to Eat by the Marine Conservation Society
- The faiths and diverse communities of the capital will be taken into account at each catering site
The NFU is a member of the London 2012 Food Advisory Group responsible for the development of the Olympics food standards.
Red Tractor certification shows consumers that they are buying food and drink that meets strict standards of food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare with a guarantee of origin. For more information go to www.redtractor.org.uk