Good food firmly on London's Mayoral plate

Ben Reynolds, Director of the London Food Link network [1] that works for healthy and sustainable food in the capital, said, “We welcome the recognition by London’s top mayoral candidates that food is essential to the health, wellbeing and enjoyment of Londoners and the security of the farmers, fishers and environment on which we all depend. Both Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson have already demonstrated, as London Mayors, that good food is what makes London great, and that political leadership is vital to achieve this.”

Kath Dalmeny, member of the London Food Board [2] and Policy Director of Sustain, an alliance of food and farming organisations [3], said, “Under Ken Livingstone’s and Boris Johnson’s two administrations, and with the support of Mayoral candidate Jenny Jones, millions of pounds of public spending on food in schools and other public institutions has shifted to more ethical options. This has also encouraged the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to adopt a healthy and sustainable food policy for its catering. Funding from the Greater London Authority, supported by the London Food Board, for Capital Growth has helped to create over 1,700 new community food growing spaces, benefiting tens of thousands of Londoners. It’s very encouraging to see the main Mayoral candidates recognising how important good food is for our city.”

Boris Johnson (Conservative), Jenny Jones (Green), Ken Livingstone (Labour) and Brian Paddick (Lib Dem) have all included measures in their manifestos that would improve the sustainability of London’s food system. These include promoting community food growing and green spaces, improving the food served in public sector institutions such as schools and hospitals, and reducing food waste (see point 4 in Notes for Editors for further details).

In November 2011, London Food Link supporters challenged London’s Mayoral candidates to support effective measures to improve the healthiness and sustainability of the capital’s food system. Each received a report produced by London Food Link on how good food can help these candidates achieve many of their aims. The report, Menu for Change, setting out priorities for improving the Capital’s food system, is available for download at: www.sustainweb.org/publications/?id=210

ENDS

For press enquiries please call Ben Reynolds on 0203 5596 777 or ben@sustainweb.org

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Notes for editors

1. London Food Link is a project of Sustain. It is an active network of organisations and individuals: local businesses, charities and organizations, farmers, food writers and food growers; caterers, cooks and community food projects in London that are working to improve the sustainability of the capital’s food sector. See: www.londonfoodlink.org.
2. The London Food Board is an advisory group of independent food policy organisations and experts which oversees the implementation of The Mayor’s Food Strategy: Healthy and Sustainable Food for London, published in 2006 and to co-ordinate work and lead the debate ought on sustainable food issues in the Capital. The London Food Board is chaired by Rosie Boycott, the Mayor of London’s food advisor, and is supported by Greater London Authority’s Food Team.
3. Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity. Sustain represents around 100 national public interest organisations working at international, national, regional and local level. See: www.sustainweb.org
4. Food-related commitments by the top four London Mayoral candidates are (in alphabetical order by surname):

Boris Johnson (www.backboris2012.com/manifesto) 

• By 2012, I aim to have turned an extra 2,012 pieces of land into thriving green spaces, allowing Londoners the chance to grow their own food.

Jenny Jones (www.jennyforlondon.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Green-Party-2012-London-Manifesto.pdf).

• Complete a network of green spaces to give everyone access to nature. We will plant more street trees, restore flood plains and generate clean energy from food waste.
• Introduce a new Lifetime Neighbourhood Level, scoring areas by how easy it is to walk or cycle to essential services and amenities such as schools, chemists, post offices, newsagents, community centres, play spaces, parks and allotments, and by how effectively crime and poor accessibility have been designed out.
• Ensure that all purchasing across the Greater London Authority group (City Hall, Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade) conform to strict ethical rules, including non-animal tested cleaning products.
• Encourage a reduction in consumption of meat and dairy produce in catering procurement decisions. Use of organic, higher welfare products would be strongly encouraged when meat, milk or eggs are used.
• Promote the Meat Free Monday campaign both within City Hall and throughout London to encourage the reduction of meat consumption.
• Produce comprehensive information on vegetarian and vegan diets for all boroughs and authorities so that all London's schools, hospitals and prisons offer healthy vegetarian and vegan options.
• Promote a cruelty-free economy and cruelty-free practices - and advocate that especially cruel foods such as pâté de fois gras, shark's fin soup and frog's legs are banned.
• Working with boroughs and trade bodies to Encourage Londoners to “buy local” and commission research into “buy local” schemes.
• Prevent the construction of purpose-built car parks for supermarkets wherever possible and ensure local shops aren’t disadvantaged by parking standards.
• Lobby the Government to give local authorities much stronger powers to prevent chain stores taking over independent shops, and to control the saturation of certain business types such as takeaways, betting shops and payday loan companies.

Ken Livingstone (www.kenlivingstone.com/uploads/fb361fbe-23d1-34a4-1124-92aba8618be5.pdf)

• Re-energise London’s Food Board – supporting the Healthy Schools programmes, local food growing projects, the successful ‘Good Food on the Public Plate’ programme and expand efforts to change our fast food culture.
• Launch a new programme working with corner shops and local food retailers to get more fresh fruit and vegetables onto Londoners plates, at the same time as challenging fast food outlets to cook healthier food.

Brian Paddick (www.brianpaddick.com/london_2012_manifesto.pdf)

• Introduce food waste collections in every borough as a step towards a comprehensive system of separate wet and dry collections.
• Introduce a plastic bag levy, as Wales and soon Northern Ireland have done, by agreement if possible, by securing legislation if not.
• Promote more food growing in and around London to reduce ‘food miles’ and increase London’s resilience.
• Support the move to Fair Trade across London.
• Work to expand the Fresh Carts scheme to 500 locations across London – bringing high quality, locally grown produce at street market prices and creating work for young jobless people wanting to create a business.