Mayor of London unveils first strategy to improve London's food

The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, and Jenny Jones Chair of London Food, today launched London's first ever strategy designed to improve London's food and reduce the environmental impact of the food industry. They were joined by Eric Schlosser the author of 'Fast Food Nation' and 'Chew on this'.

'Healthy and Sustainable Food for London' provides an overview of London's food infrastructure involving growers, producers, transporters, wholesalers, retailers and consumers. The strategy recommends a range of actions which would improve Londoners' health through better diet by increasing the choice, availability and quality of food for all, especially the most disadvantaged. It also celebrates and promotes the huge variety of cuisines available in London, reflecting the capital's cultural diversity, and outlining how a more sustainable future might be achieved.

The London Development Agency, the Mayor's agency for jobs and business, is providing a budget of £3.87m over the next three years to support the work of the London Food Strategy.

Ken Livingstone, said: 'Food is an essential part of everyday living that can easily be taken for granted, yet the effects of our food habits are increasingly clear. Obesity levels are rising and many people don't have easy access to healthy and nutritious food. There are aspects of London's food system which are wasting resources and contributing to climate change.

'London has also been described as the gastronomic capital of the world and the vibrant cosmopolitan make-up of the city means we have over 12,000 restaurants selling produce from over 60 different cuisines. Places like Brick Lane are now tourist destinations in their own right, and showcase the world's cuisines to excellent effect.

'The London Food strategy seeks to build on our success stories, so that people will be able access better quality food, with minimal impact on our environment.'

Jenny Jones, Chair of London Food, said: 'Londoners want food that is good for them, good for the planet, and good for the people who produce it.  This strategy is a radical vision of how London can become a healthier, happier and greener city by encouraging the capital's food system to focus on good quality fresh, seasonal, local, and fair trade produce.'

Eric Schlosser, author of 'Fast Food Nation' and 'Chew on this', who helped launch the London Food Strategy, said: 'People want information about what they are eating and the effect it has on their health. We need to give people the real facts so they can make informed choices. For young people in particular, decisions they make now about what they eat will have lifelong consequences. Already nearly one in six British children are obese. But, I am optimistic that people are changing their food habits as they become aware of what they eat. The London Food Strategy aims to improve this great capital's food systems, whilst celebrating and promoting all that is good already.'

A detailed action plan to deliver the food strategy will be published later this year. Some of the proposed initiatives that will be developed include:

• Developing training courses for catering staff, including schools and assist them in negotiating contracts with caterers, plus establishing more effective local supplies of healthy, sustainable food makes it way onto the plates of the capital's children
• Promoting London as a food tourism destination, by developing a food calendar, supporting food events and establishing sustainable food awards
• Investigating how to increase sustainable, healthy food in London's public sector organisations
• Developing a kitemark to be used to brand locally-sourced, sustainable food
• Investigating potential improvements to London's food infrastructure, to ensure that more healthy, sustainable, locally-sourced food reaches more of London's people
• Working with food and drink businesses to promote greater efficiency and more responsible waste management
• Communicating the healthy eating message to London, in all its diversity, via targeted campaigning and promotional activity,  including piloting 'reward card' initiatives which support local businesses

The London Food Strategy covers five themes: to improve Londoners' health through food, to reduce the negative environmental impacts of food, to support a vibrant food economy, to celebrate and promote London's food and to develop London's food security.

The Mayor set up London Food in November 2003 to advise him on food issues in the capital.  London Food is co-ordinated by the London Development Agency and brings together leading figures from the food industry, agriculture, community groups and government.

Ends

Notes to editors:

• 'London Food' is chaired by Green Party Assembly Member Jenny Jones. It works closely with the Mayor, London Development Agency, Government Office for London, Association for London Government, Department of Health, regional organisations, with representatives from the food industry, agriculture and community groups. It is taking forward the recommendations from the Government's delivery plan for Sustainable Farming and Food in the South East Region which includes London
• The London Food Strategy is available at: www.londonfoodstrategy.org.uk
• The London Food Strategy is funded and supported by the London Development Agency, the Mayor's agency for business and jobs.
• The annual Health Survey for England 2004, www.ic.nhs.uk/news/press/pr210406  shows that levels of obesity among children have risen over the past ten years. Around one in four 11 to 15 year olds are considered obese. Obesity prevalence for the period 1995 to 2004 increased from 14% to 24% for boys and from 15% to 26% for girls.
• Eric Schlosser is the author of best selling book Fast Food Nation, which is an expose of the fast food industry. His new book, Chew on This, is aimed at young people. Schlosser is American and has done most of his research in the United States and Canada.
• A film of Fast Food Nation starring Ethan Hawke premiered at Cannes last weekend.
• A list of food facts
  

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