Better Nursery Food Campaign Hits Facebook

As Soil Association and Organix build the case for stronger government action.

The Soil Association and Organix, the baby and toddler food company, have launched a Facebook campaign to spread the word and engage mums and dads in supporting the Better Nursery Food Now Campaign, which calls on the Government to implement nutritional standards for nursery school food. 

The Better Nursery Food Campaign aims to increase the pressure on Government by highlighting examples of nurseries where parents are dissatisfied with the nutritional standards of nursery food.  Whether it’s a nursery serving junk food, or food with artificial additives and e-numbers, or poor food generally, we are asking parents and nursery workers to post their experiences on the Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Better-Nursery-Food-Now/222751501250
and sign the petition to take to government on: http://www.nurseryfood.org

The experiences from mums and dads will enable the Better Nursery Food Now campaigns team to step up the pressure on Government to put in place nutritional standards that will cover all nurseries, guaranteeing better food in nurseries. 

Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie – exposing the truth about nursery food, was launched by Organix and the Soil Association in October 2008.  The report found that:

• There are no clear nutritional standards for UK nurseries.
• Some nurseries spend as little as 25p per meal, per child.
• Colourings and additives, not allowed in manufactured foods for children, were regularly being permitted in nurseries.
• Foods banned or restricted in primary and secondary schools – like chips, sweets and chocolate – are still regularly served in nurseries.
• No Government Department was willing to take responsibility for the quality and monitoring of nursery food.

Pamela Brunton, Nursery Food Campaigns Manager at the Soil Association, says, “Since the publication of the report, despite widespread support from parents, the Government has failed to take the lead on the crucial issue of nourishing the next generation.   This is why with funding support from Organix, we will take the nursery food campaign further this year pushing for nutritional standards for our youngest children.”

Anna Rosier, Managing Director at Organix, says, “We don’t think the health and nutrition of our youngest generation should be left to chance.  We believe the current scenario is unacceptable and we want changes made urgently. Whilst there are some really good examples of best practice in nurseries, we are calling on the Government to put in place nutritional standards that will cover all nurseries, guaranteeing better food”.