FMA News & Press Releases
Plaudits for Portsmouth Primary School Lunches - Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark accredited meals from ISS Facility Services
Published: Wednesday 29th January 2014
Source: ISS
London, January 29 2014 - Following a perfect audit, pupils in fifty-two Portsmouth primary schools will be able to enjoy Food for Life Bronze Catering Mark accredited lunches from half term February 2014, thanks to their caterers, ISS Facility Services Education. ISS received the accreditation in record time – awarded the same day as the inspection.
The Food for Life Catering Mark, an award scheme developed by the Soil Association, demonstrates that the food on a caterer’s menu is fresh, healthy and sustainable. The kitchen team at Ark Ayrton Academy proved that the lunches in Portsmouth schools were just that, receiving confirmation of their accreditation on the same day as auditor, Lucy Murton, visited the site for inspection – a catering mark first, according to the Soil Association.
Rob Sexton CEO of Soil Association Certification said; “This latest Bronze for ISS Education marks a first for the Catering Mark – with the award presented in record time on the same day as their site inspection. ISS continue to demonstrate that it is possible to serve fresh, healthy meals at scale, whilst supporting the local economy, reducing food miles, supporting higher welfare standards for animals, and making the most of seasonal produce.”
Caterers with the Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark serve seasonal meals which are freshly prepared and free from undesirable additives and GM ingredients. ISS Education’s school menus also include a selection of organic products, including bread and yoghurts, as well as a range of locally sourced, seasonal produce. In addition, all of the eggs are free range and all of the meat, including the halal provision in schools which have requested it, is Farm Assured/Red Tractor certified.
Mark Davies, Divisional Director of ISS Education, commented: “our team in Portsmouth have worked really hard to gain the Bronze Food for Life Catering Mark and it’s fantastic to see them not only achieving it, but setting a catering mark first as a result of their excellent planning and attention to detail. We are really proud of what has been achieved in Portsmouth and are looking forward to seeing pupils enjoying the new menus from February.”
ISS Education now provides Food for Life Catering Mark accredited menus to 326 schools across the country; a number which continues to rise.
In 2013, ISS Education was awarded the Change4Life award at the Lead Association for Catering in Education (LACA) Awards for Excellence – a result of implementing the catering mark and its principles in hundreds of schools.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
For further information please contact:
Craig Smith, Head of Corporate Affairs, ISS FS Healthcare, Education and Defence
Tel: +44 (0) 845 057 6565
About ISS UK:
ISS is a leading global provider of facility services for public agencies and private sector companies, employing over 540,000 people worldwide.
In the UK alone, we employ approximately 45,000 employees who are dedicated to delivering high quality support services. ISS UK provides organisations with every facility solution they might require to support their own core activities. Our services include facilities management, engineering, catering, cleaning, food and hospitality, front of house, security, consultancy and landscaping.
ISS is committed to doing business the right way. We are actively involved in corporate responsibility and sustainability initiatives and similarly, we strive to ensure that all our people are paid a full and fair living wage and we recently formalised these commitments by becoming the first major FM provider to sign the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage Recognition Scheme.
Twitter: @ISSUKComms and @RSykesISS
LinkedIn: ISS Facility Services UK
Website: www.uk.issworld.com