Argyll & Bute’s sustainable school meals

16 May 2019

Argyll and Bute Council have been hard at work boosting local business and reducing food miles with sustainable school meals, winning the Food for Life Served Here award for the seventh year running.

Argyll and Bute Council have once again been recognised for offering fresh, healthy and sustainable school meals, receiving our Bronze Food for Life Served Here award for the seventh year running. Congratulations to the council!

Putting Scottish food on the menu

The council uses a whole network of local suppliers, with school dinners prepared using ingredients including:

fruit and vegetables from J. M. Breckenridge of West of Scotland & Highland;
bread from Black of Dunoon (Bakery);
cheese from Campbeltown Creamery;
meat from A.S. Porter family butcher on Islay;
milk from D.J. Campbell of Lochgilphead;
and meat and milk from McAlister on Bute.

"The Food for Life scheme is an excellent way for schools to ensure meat products are Scotch and Farm Assured." Christopher Campbell, Managing Director, Campbells Prime Meat Ltd

Christopher Campbell, Managing Director of Campbells Prime Meat Ltd, told us what the programme has meant for him: “Campbells Prime Meat Ltd is delighted to supply Argyll & Bute products under the Food for Life scheme. Provenance of products is increasingly important, and the Food for Life scheme is an excellent way for schools to ensure meat products are Scotch and Farm Assured.”

What the award means

Argyll and Bute Council are serving 4,300 Food for Life accredited meals a day across their 80 certified primary schools.

The award recognises that these meals are made from fresh ingredients, free from genetically modified ingredients and undesirable additives, using free-range eggs and high-welfare meat.

Food for Life Served Here Scotland

The Food for Life Served Here award is a widely respected and independently assessed scheme, supported by the Scottish Government, which helps local authorities to source food from the local area for school dinners so that children benefit from freshly prepared, sustainable meals.

Congratulations

Sarah Duley, Head of Food at Soil Association Scotland, said: “Huge congratulations to Argyll and Bute Council for renewing their Bronze Award for the seventh year running. This is a fantastic achievement and reflects the hard work of all the catering staff. We’re delighted to celebrate the council’s commitment to supporting local producers and providing fresh, healthy and sustainable food for their pupils.”

Congratulations again, Argyll and Bute Council!