In the UK, Conservative member of parliament (MP) and green campaigner Zac Goldsmith has called on ministers to kickstart a revolution in eating habits by guaranteeing that the government and public sector's £2bn (€2.3bn) annual food budget be spent to ensure that all schools, hospitals and care homes begin using healthy, environmentally friendly, sustainable food.
According to UK newspaper the Guardian, the taskforce led by Mr Goldsmith urges the government to reorganise public sector food procurement in order to boost British agriculture, reduce food miles, limit dependence on international supplies and improve the quality of food eaten by UK consumers.
According to its unpublished final report, changes could be cost-neutral or even save money, and would mean that meals produced in the NHS, local councils, schools, care homes and Whitehall departments, as well as prisons and the armed forces, were much healthier by containing less salt and saturated fat and always including fruit and vegetables.
Mr Goldsmith said that he soon hoped to meet ministers at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in order to discuss the report.
'Zac Goldsmith is encouraging sustainble food sourcing because of the 'hidden costs' of food production,' a press release by market analyst Organic Monitor stated. 'His proposal to promote organic and local foods in the public sector are welcomed, however much depends on how much political backing he receives. The coalition government could learn from other European countries – such as Ireland and the Netherlands – which have successfully implemented such programmes.'
