A recipe for success for Orkney’s school catering team

Orkney Islands Council's school catering service has had its Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) Bronze certification renewed for the sixth consecutive year.

The award is run by Soil Association Scotland through the Food for Life programme. It recognises caterers who serve fresh, responsibly sourced, ethical ingredients, and who are part of a growing movement committed to food that is good for the climate, nature and people's health. The team first achieved the Bronze award in 2020.

The certification is an independent endorsement, backed by annual inspections, for food providers who are taking steps to improve the food they serve.

Orkney is one of thousands of certified locations across the UK, which together serve over 1 million Food for Life Served Here certified meals every day.

The Council's catering team serves around 2,000 hot, nutritious meals every day to pupils across Orkney's schools and nurseries.

Scott Pring, Service Manager for Corporate Catering at Orkney Islands Council, said:

"Renewing our Food for Life Bronze certification is a real credit to everyone in the catering team, whose hard work and commitment keep standards high year after year. We're also grateful to our local suppliers, whose quality produce, sourced right here in Orkney, helps make these meals what they are. The benefits of the programme go directly to our children and young people, who enjoy freshly prepared meals that we know are healthy and sustainable."

The Food for Life Served Here award recognises school meals made from fresh ingredients, using free-range eggs and higher-welfare meat, and free from genetically modified ingredients and undesirable additives.

Councillor Gwenda Shearer, Chair of Orkney Islands Council's Education, Communities and Housing Committee, said:

"Orkney is rightly known for the quality of its local produce, and it's excellent to see that same produce going into fresh, nutritious meals for our children and young people.

“Renewing the Food for Life Bronze award shows the pride our catering teams take in what they serve, and the benefits for pupils' health, learning and eating habits are clear. It also supports our local suppliers and helps cut food miles. Well done to everyone involved."