Website of the Department of Health

What is the Healthier Food Mark?

Every working day, millions of people eat food provided by the public sector – in schools, hospitals, staff restaurants, care homes and elsewhere. Almost a third of meals provided by caterers in England are served by the public sector – that’s millions of meals a day.

At the same time, there is a need to ensure our long-term food security, the sustainability of food production and consumption, and the promotion of public health. The Government wants the public sector to lead by example in the delivery of healthier, more sustainable food. This means not only making sure that the food provided is healthier but also that food wastage is reduced and the environmental impact of food production and consumption is taken into account in making food buying decisions.

To make sure that public sector food is both healthier and provided as sustainably as possible, the Government is introducing a scheme to encourage and recognise best practice among public sector organisations buying and serving food. The working title for the scheme during its development is the 'Healthier Food Mark'.

The Healthier Food Mark will operate in England. The Scottish Government and Consumer Focus Scotland will continue to roll out their Healthy Living Award north of the border. Scotland Wales and Northern Ireland colleagues are engaged on any opportunities and impacts provided by the Healthier Food Mark. In Wales, they will continue to roll out the Healthy Options Award as the approach to promoting healthier choices in catering businesses.

Who will benefit?

The consumers of public sector food – there are an estimated 70,000 premature deaths in the UK that could be avoided if our diets matched nutritional guidelines. This scheme will provide reassurance to the consumer that the food offered in the public sector is healthier.

The providers of public sector food – Government spends £2 billion a year on food. This scheme will furnish public sector organisations with voluntary standards for the nutrition and sustainability of food they provide and recognition for achieving these standards.

The environment - the food chain has huge environmental impacts (around 18percent of UK greenhouse gas emissions are related to food production and consumption). This scheme will help with the sustainability of food provision that is under public sector control.

The economy - the health benefits of meeting national nutritional guidelines have been estimated to be as high as £20 billion a year and this scheme can also play a part in helping to reduce the cost to the NHS of food-related ill health (see Food Matters, 2008). Added to this are savings from reducing waste, energy and water use and the benefits of a more sustainable and secure food chain.

The food and drink supply chain - accounting for 7percent of GDP and employing 3.7 million people, many UK jobs and businesses are involved in providing public sector food. This scheme will set clear guidelines on healthier, more sustainable food and recognise achievement for the benefit of both public sector buyers of food and the food industry.

How will we do it?

The Department of Health (DH); the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are working as part of a cross government group with the food industry, public sector organisations and other stakeholders to create a voluntary scheme. This will be tested as a pre-consultation pilot in 2009-10; then a full consultation on the scheme will follow in 2010 and the scheme will potentially roll-out in 2011.

Find out more and get involved

On this website you will find more details on:

• the scheme - including an explanation of how it is expected to work and the policy background;
• the draft criteria - to be tested in a pilot project starting in Autumn 2009;
• the pre-consultation pilot – how it will work and how you can volunteer to be involved; and
• other ways to contact the project team with your feedback, ideas and opinions.

• View the scheme details
• View the draft scheme criteria
• Visit the pilot page
• Contact us