A new report, Good Food Local: The London Report, published today by Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming, has awarded Newham Council a Leadership Award for its commitment to healthy and sustainable food initiatives.
The report measured the council’s approach to food within the borough with measurement across multiple areas, such as its response to the cost-of-living crisis, children’s food, healthier food environments and food growing. Newham Council showed strong cross-cutting leadership across different disciplines. The local authority’s joined-up approach to food is evident. For example, their near 15-year-old Eat for Free scheme, which has supported countless children and families; the Newham Food Alliance; the Just Transition Plan; the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and more recently, the Newham Healthier Food Advertising Policy.
Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said:
“This award is a huge accomplishment and signals the tremendous efforts of our Public Health team working on our food strategy. Tackling obesity is a key priority for our local authority and good, healthy, sustainable food is an essential element in being able to do so effectively.
“We recently approved the Healthier Advertising Policy, leading to all advertising spaces controlled by us to be free from adverts for foods high in fat, salt and sugar. This is evidence of our approach to ensuring healthy food is a priority, and that we are sending out the right message to residents.
“Our hard work does not stop here and we are constantly exploring ways to develop food initiatives, for the better.”
29 councils were surveyed for the report by Sustain, Newham Council is one of 11 to have received an award for their work with food, alongside Camden, Islington, Lambeth, Greenwich, Southwark and Tower Hamlets. Wandsworth has been recognised as the most improved council and Lewisham, Waltham Forest and Westminster received commendations.
Bella Driessen, Local Policy Coordinator at Sustain says: “In our twelfth year of writing this report, it is fantastic to see continued progress across the capital. Despite incredibly tight budgets, and grappling with the cost-of-living crisis, councils have shown they are committed to making food healthier, more sustainable, and more accessible for their residents. We are delighted to be presenting awards to several councils that are doing remarkable work for their communities, and we commend all the councils that took part in the survey and are making efforts to champion good food.”
The report coincides with the five-year anniversary of the Transport for London advertising policy restricting adverts for unhealthy foods. In the last year, three London councils have passed Healthier Food Advertising policies, making a total of seven London Councils to do so. An economic health model published in The International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity found that the TfL policy alone could prevent 95,000 cases of obesity and reduce sugary food purchases by 20%, with positive effects now rolling out across boroughs.
In January, the Mayor of London announced an extension of free school meals to all primary aged children until 2025. This policy shift around school meals is reflected in this year’s report, with more councils expanding eligibility for school meals to secondary schools or supplementing the funding for school meals to improve the quality.
Barbara Crowther, Campaign Manager for the Children’s Food Campaign at Sustain says: “With new Mayoral funding for primary school meals, 2023 was a momentous year for school food in London. Many councils have gone the extra mile with advice and support, including additional grants to improve kitchen and dining facilities, or top up funding beyond £2.65 per meal, or expand their secondary meal services.
“The opportunity – and challenge – is not just putting food on a plate, but ensuring it is nutritious, and appealing, connects into food education and learning, and supports local health, sustainability and climate change goals. What happens in London has the power to inform and transform future government policies and funding levels, not just in London but across the nation; not just for primary, but for all children from nursery to sixth form.”
The full report is available at www.sustainweb.org/good-food-local/london. For advice and information about healthy eating, visit www.wellnewham.org.uk/advice/healthy-eating.