Thurrock Catering Service achieves Gold Food for Life Catering Mark

Thurrock Catering Service has achieved the prestigious Gold Food for Life Catering Mark for serving fresh and healthy meals

Thurrock Catering Service, the in-house catering provider for Thurrock Schools has been awarded the Soil Association’s gold Food for Life Catering Mark for its school meal provision at 31 primary schools in Thurrock serving over 7000 meals per day.

This award is the Soil Association’s highest accolade in its accreditation scheme.  It provides an independent endorsement that Thurrock Catering Services are providing fresh healthy food which promotes the use of seasonal and organic produce, is sustainable, free range, local, traceable and free from trans fats and harmful additives.

Thurrock Catering Services were rigorously audited to ensure its primary menus met the highest standards of traceability, provenance and freshness. The Gold award also recognises the following standards:

• Menus comply with the latest national Food Standards

• At least 75% of dishes are freshly prepared from unprocessed ingredients

• All meat is from farms which satisfy UK animal welfare standards

• Eggs are from Free Range hens

• Milk is organic

• Menus use seasonal and in-season produce is highlighted

• No undesirable additives or artificial trans fats are used

• No genetically modified ingredients are used

• No fish is served from the ‘fish to avoid’ list stipulated by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council, who fishing)

• Information is on display about food provenance

• Catering staff are supported with skills training in fresh food preparation and the Catering Mark

• All suppliers have been verified to ensure they apply appropriate food safety standards

• Menus provide for all dietary and cultural needs

The GOLD Standard is assessed on a points system. To achieve gold, at least 300 points are needed for the following criteria, including a minimum of:

• 75 points for spending at least 15% of total ingredient budget on organic produce
• 20 points for spending at least 5% of total ingredient budget on free range pork or poultry
• 25 points for sourcing ethical and environmentally friendly food (organic, free range, MSC, MCS ‘fish to eat’, Freedom Food, Fairtrade or LEAF)
• 50 points for making healthy eating easier
• Collecting 150 points from any of these categories