Press Releases for 2005

REAL FOOD BEGINS IN KENT

31st March 2005

Richard Boden Green Party Candidate for Ashford has launched an alternative model to the Government's response to the poor quality of school meals. This consists of a "3-course" action plan for children's healthier eating with emphasis on local supply and organic foodstuffs. Richard comments:

"Government plans to provide 13p extra school meal funding will bring funding up to about half what is really necessary (1). The Green Party has launched a national campaign for a "3-course" action plan to provide fresh, local, additive-free, and organic food to schoolchildren. We are concerned that the Government's extra funding - whilst welcome will not combat the problems of obesity, bad nutrition and lack of access to local, fresh food. We do think that healthier children would mean less NHS spending, including dentistry.

"The Green alternative is to implement measures that would change schoolchildren's entire way of eating and thinking about food - for a healthier future society. By banning additives, procuring local fresh produce, and teaching children about food - and where it comes from - we can work from primary school up to form eating habits that benefit all of society."

The Green's 3-Course action plan includes:

- Banning all harmful additives in school meals. Children's behaviour in school and quality of education would change for the better.

- Local procurement by local education authorities. This would not only benefit school children as food would be fresher, but also regenerate local farming(2). How much of the fruit supplied at schools is local today the answer is hardly any at present.

-Focus on primary not secondary education, as a first priority. The hearts and minds of young people are shaped at an early age, as are attitudes towards healthy eating (3).

Ends c275 words

FURTHER INFORMATION: Richard Boden - Green Party Candidate for Ashford, 01233 812398 (callminder). Richard Boden runs Wyecycle, the Wye-based recycling company. Contact address as above.

Notes:

1. Meaning just 50p a meal. The National Union of Teachers has suggested a minimum of �1 per pupil, which seems both reasonable in terms of nutritional quality and in returns to Kent's farmers, as well as cost to the public purse.
2. Regulations requiring a certain standard of freshness would ensure local sourcing is possible even under EU legislation on open competition.
3. More details of Kent Green Party's education policy can be found in the Kent Green Party manifesto, see bottom of home page at: www.kentgreenparty.org.uk

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3rd April 2005