Freedom of Information Request - School Dinners Procurement

Please find detailed below the response to the query in relation to the above.

1. “What is being done by the schools in your local authority area to ensure the procurement of food for school meals meets the terms of “Integrating sustainable development into procurement of food and catering services”.

The procurement of food for East Dunbartonshire Council is managed by Scotland Excel - Centre of Excellence for Local Government. Sustainable development is part of the contract documentation.

2. “Provide information setting out how schools in your area meet the relevant obligations on sustainable development set out in the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007”

This is achieved through the procurement of food as in the response for question 1.

3. “Please provide information which sets out the efforts made in schools in your area to promote the use of locally sourced meals, and what is done under your authority to encourage this”.

All meals provided in the schools are prepared and delivered by East Dunbartonshire Council's Facilities Management Service.

4. “Provide information which sets out how far the food provided in schools in your area travels”.

This information can be provided by Scotland Excel.

5. “Provide information which sets out what efforts are made to minimise the waste associated with school meals both in terms of meals not consumed and waste more generally”.

Number of meals provided is carefully monitored by the on site Team Leader. Training is undertaken to instruct staff about minimising waste, ordering only what is required, portion control etc. Waste is recorded and findings evaluated at regular intervals.

6. “Provide information on what proportion of the glass, cans, paper, plastics and vegetable oil associated with school food provision in your area are recycled, and associated packaging minimised”.

Glass, cans, paper and plastics are currently not recycled from the kitchen however 100% of vegetable oil is. The schools, in general, have facilities to recycle these items.

7. “Provide information on how small local producers and suppliers are encouraged to organise collective responses to demand in schools”.

Unlike some other local Authorities research has shown that there is an issue with suitable local producers and suppliers for East Dunbartonshire Council. Scotland Excel is relied upon to encourage local interest.

8. “Provide information on how the use of local, fresh, seasonal, traditional and organic produce in schools is promoted”.

Fresh, seasonal and traditional produce is promoted through “theme days” in the schools and through menu planning and menus being sent home to parents.

9. “Provide information on whether organic, ethical and Fair-trade options are provided in schools in your area”.

Ethical and Fair-trade options are provided and promoted in the schools. Organic food is currently not provided.