There are a number of measures that local authorities and other public sector bodies can take to improve the food supplied on their premises and through their own catering contracts.  A number of standards and tools are available to support this, including:

• Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (already built into national school and hospital food standards ⁴
• Eat Better Start Better – voluntary guidance to improve food in early years settings, for example day nurseries and childminders ⁵
• The School Food Plan – guidance for schools to improve the food quality and dining experience, and provides nutritional standards [39]
• Caroline Walker Trust – guidance for serving food to older people.⁶

1. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), “The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Affairs,” 2015
2. The Children’s Food Trust, “Eat Better Start Better programme,” [Online]. Available: http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/. [Accessed November 2016]
3. The Caroline Walker Trust, “Eat Well for Children and Adults with learning disabilities,” 2004
4. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), “The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Affairs,” 2015
5. The Children’s Food Trust, “Eat Better Start Better programme,” [Online]. Available: http://www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/childrens-food-trust/early-years/. [Accessed November 2016]
6. The Caroline Walker Trust, “Eat Well for Children and Adults with learning disabilities,” 2004