As Jamie Oliver�s new TV series on school food hits our screens [1], more and more schools have already transformed their school meals, delivering tasty and nutritious school meals in line with the Soil Association�s Food for Life targets. These ensure that as well as meeting the Government�s new standards on nutrition the food is 75% unprocessed, 50% local and 30% organic.

With three local authorities in England adopting Soil Association Food for Life targets and over 500 schools pledging their support 1000s of children are already benefiting from Food for Life meals.

Peter Melchett, Soil Association Policy Director says: "Although there is a long way to go, these schools show that more children will eat healthy food and that school meals can be healthy, nutritious and good for the environment. "

Jamie Oliver has endorsed the Soil Association�s critical role in driving improvements on school food, �The Food for Life project by the Soil Association launched the public debate on the quality of school meals�

Statistics on Food for Life Schools spending and take-up of school dinners [2] : School Spend on Ingredients (p) Cost of Meal (�) Uptake (%) All Saints Primary School, Ilkley 70 1.60 79 Lethbridge Primary School, Wiltshire 80 2.00 60 Mornington Primary School, Notts 85 1.59 65 Southdown Infants School, Bath 75 1.50 80 East Ayrshire (11 schools in FFL pilot) 75 1.48 68 Thomas Fairchild Community School, Hackney 67 1.60 90

Essex schools are among the leaders of the school food revolution. 6,000 pupils in 50 Essex schools are benefiting from meals that meet the Food for Life targets. With the help of Ashlyns Organics Ltd and pioneering dinner lady and writer Jeanette Orrey, school meals have been transformed in just six months. Uptake has grown by 45%, in some schools by as much as 150% after introducing tasty menus, cooked from fresh using local and organic ingredients. Meals cost on average �1.70 - 70p of which is spent on ingredients. In contrast, an earlier Soil Association survey revealed that the average spend on ingredients in England is just 51p.

The secret ingredients for success in Essex are Ashlyn�s training kitchen for school cooks, teaching school cooks to cook from scratch, using fresh produce, a menu development service to ensure meals are tasty and nutritionally balanced, and a producer co- operative to supply local schools fresh from local and often organic farms. To top it all they also offer farm visits hosting up to 90 children a day so they can experience a farm and see where their food comes from.

In London, Soho Parish school in Westminster opened its new school meals service this week, with nutritious meals, after building a new kitchen. The school teamed up with Eagle Solutions2 to serve organic meat, vegetables and bread. Meal numbers leapt up from 68 to 124 in just one week. Also in London, Morningside school in Hackney, serves 70% of its children a local and organic school lunch, this is backed up by cooking clubs and food tasting. Both schools are working towards Food for Life Targets.

In Bradford, the amount spent on school meal ingredients per child has risen by 14p since May 2005 to 60p. 20% of the food served is local, along with organic carrots and milk. Despite this, the price paid by parents has remained low (�1.25) and uptake is well above average, at 56%.

Ends

Notes to editor: [1] Jamie�s Return to School Dinners channel 4 Monday 18th 9pm

[2] Double Dividend Sustainable consumption round table 2005

[3] A Soil Association survey in May 2006 showed Local Education Authorities spend on ingredients for primary school meals had increased from 47p in 2005 to just 51p in 2006, with some still spending as little as 41p per child per meal.

[4] Eagle Solutions are a catering management company and provide catering support to Soho Parish and Morningside schools 0207 241 7160

[5] The Soil Association is working with over 500 schools and 10 Local authorities on Food for Life. The Soil Association's Food for Life targets are:

School lunches should aim to provide food which meets the nutrition targets set by the Caroline Walker Trust and the School Meals Review Panel. 75% of all foods consumed should be made from unprocessed ingredients At least 50% by weight of meal ingredients should be sourced from the local region (50 mile radius or as close as possible). At least 30% by weight of the food served should be from certified organic sources. Better classroom education on food, cooking nutrition and health and ensure that all children visit a farm at least once during their time at school.

[6] Overall, the survey revealed that school meal providers are beginning to source local and organic food. 30% of LEAs are now sourcing some organic produce for schools meals and 63% are sourcing some local food.

[7] The size of the UK organic market grew by 30% in 2005. 2 out of 3 shoppers now buy some organic food. This is not restricted to high income brackets only. Over 50% of those in the most disadvantaged social brackets � C2, D and E are now buying organic food and drink.

For more information on Food for Life please contact Emma Noble, Soil Association Food for Life manager: 07900 376 462 / enoble@soilassociation.org Peter Melchett, Soil Association policy director: 07740 951066 / pmlechett@soilassociation.org

For more information on Ashlyn�s contact: Gary Stokes, project magager: 01277 890821 / gary@ashlyns.co.uk

For media enquiries contact the Soil Association media office 0117 914 2448 / press@soilassociation.org