Government Buying Standards

  • NHS tries to dump junk food

    CATERING FIRMS will be hauled in front of the NHS England board and told to offer up healthier choices in the country’s hospitals.                   Fast food chains operating on hospital sites, including… Read More

  • NFU chief attacks “hypocritical” government buying standards

    THE NFU has long fought for better relationships between retailers and farmers, but its president also has the government’s buying practices in his sights.   In an exclusive interview, published in April’s Footprint, Peter Kendall refers to food procurement within… Read More

  • A rotten year for public-sector food

    HORSE MEAT in school meals, pork in prisoners’ halal pies and a damning verdict on hospital catering have meant a troubled start to 2013 for catering companies.                          … Read More

  • New food standards for hospitals

    THE DEPARTMENT of Health has announced eight “principles” to encourage the improvement of hospital food.     The list includes the adoption of Government Buying Standards “as standard wherever possible”.   Hospitals should also “regularly evaluate their food service and… Read More

  • Caterers dragged in to milk debate

    RETAILERS HAVE taken a swipe at caterers, food manufacturers and the Government for not paying farmers enough for milk.   Supermarkets have come under intense pressure in recent weeks after a series of price cuts, which the NFU has said… Read More

  • Defra in the dock over sustainable sourcing

    Jim Paice has been left with egg on his face after his department failed to meet its own buying standards on food procurement. With the angry Minister promising immediate action, David Burrows asks whether the Government really has an appetite… Read More

  • McDonald’s shows DEFRA how it’s done

    The new buying standards introduced by the Government in September are weaker than those in fast food outlets like McDonald’s.   New research carried out by the ‘Good food for our money campaign’  compared the government’s food procurement standards with… Read More