Medway has won a prestigious Sustainable Food Places award, recognising its work to promote healthy, sustainable and local food.
The Bronze Award follows a number of initiatives across Medway to tackle a range of food-related issues, from food poverty and diet-related ill-health to the promotion of sustainable practices in food production, distribution and consumption.
The award also recognised a number of examples of good work on healthy and sustainable food practices promoted by The Medway Food Partnership.
First and foremost, the partnership has brought together more than 150 different organisations and charities to share best practice, share resources and champion the great work being achieved daily in Medway around food.
In another example, the introduction of the Healthy Vending guidance will help businesses adopt subtle changes to improve the health and wellbeing of their workforce, while further initiatives include the introduction of the culturally diverse Eatwell guide, and the Food for Life programme for schools.
Medway has also adopted an outdoor events policy, that supports the use of low carbon, plant-based foods, local and ethical supply chains and working towards a plastic free Medway.
Leon Ballin, the Sustainable Food Places Programme Manager, said: “The Medway Food Partnership has shown just what can be achieved when creative and committed people work together to make healthy and sustainable food a defining characteristic of where they live. While there is still much to do and many challenges to overcome, the Medway Food Partnership has helped to set a benchmark for the other 100+ members of the UK Sustainable Food Places Network to follow. They should be very proud of the work that they have been doing to transform our collective food culture and food system for the better.”
Most recently, Medway Council became the 16th local authority to bring in Healthier Food Advertising elements into their Advertising and Sponsorship Policy, after the Mayor of London first brought in policy changes across the Transport for London network in 2019. Developed in collaboration with Sustain, the policy change will take unhealthy food out of the spotlight and was introduced to improve public health across Medway, in what is just one aspect of our wider Whole System Obesity plan.
Fran Bernhardt, from Sustain said: “This policy is a bold step in the right direction, prioritising not just health but equality and sustainability too. Evidence shows that putting the spotlight on unhealthy food increases the risk of food related ill health like diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay. Companies target low-income areas, resulting in people living there being more likely to experience poor health. Additionally, many of the restricted products are unsustainable containing climate damaging ingredients, such as sugar, cocoa and palm oil, as well as requiring lots of energy to process them.”
Cllr Teresa Murray, Deputy Leader of Medway Council, said: “I am incredibly proud of everyone involved in the dedication and innovation in achieving the Sustainable Food Award. This is a great example of a strategic and collaborative approach to good food governance and action. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to creating a healthier, more sustainable future here in Medway.
“The changes to the Advertising and Sponsorship Policy are another big step in the right direction to help improve health and wellbeing across Medway. Eating healthier is one of the simplest steps we can take to improve our lives, and has more impact than anything else, but it can also be a difficult step to take when we’re bombarded with advertising for the wrong foods.
“This policy will bolster other initiatives across Medway and help promote the food knowledge and skills to make our communities healthier and happier.”
Find out more about the Medway Food Partnership.