School dinner team is top of the class

Oldham Council's schools catering service has tasted success thanks to the meals it is serving up across the borough.

The team brought back the bacon after attending the prestigious Food for Life Served Here & Green Kitchen Standard awards in London.

They scooped the Food for Life Served Here Excellence at Silver & Gold Award.

The awards recognise organisations that go the extra mile when it comes to serving up nutritious healthy food that is locally sourced and better for the environment as it’s made with sustainable practise in mind.

The award is another accolade for the team which is firmly established at the top table when it comes to hard work and dedication.

The team were the first in the North West to attain a ‘Gold Food for Life Catering Mark’ – a standard that has maintained ever since thanks to the quality meals being plated up every day.

And they have also won a BOOM (Best of Organic Market) which promote organic food and living. Every meal served in 76 primary and special schools by the catering team meets the gold standard and are examples of best practice. 

They are healthy, ethically prepared and contain lots of locally sourced ingredients and products which can be traced.

All menus are freshly prepared daily on site by catering teams using a range of organic products, high animal welfare produce and free range ingredients.

Helen Lockwood, Deputy Chief Executive, said: “I’d like to congratulate the Schools Catering Team as this award recognises their hard work.

“Every day our team prepare around 16,000 healthy, nutritious and tasty meals for pupils to tuck into and this award shows they are doing it the right way.

“Parents, children and residents are more interested than ever before about the source and quality of the food they eat. 

“The award shows our commitment to ensuring that our school children are receiving the best quality food as part of a healthy balanced diet.”

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FOOD AWARD: Anne Burns, Principal Catering Manager with the accolade.