13th April 2010
Report states that Olympic catering must be sustainable

The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games have completed a review of food and catering policies, which states that the 2012 event should make way for sustainable and responsibly sourced products.

Entitled 'On your marks, get set, grow', the review commended the work already done towards making catering practices in relation to the Games more sustainable.

The review sets out the challenge of ensuring that this green approach is continued. It also states that food produce should be healthy and affordable, and predominantly sourced from Britain - celebrating the diversity of British cuisine through on-site catering.

The sustainable catering agenda is also being carried through for contractors currently working on the construction and infrastructure of the Olympic Games, with the likes of seasonal produce, Fairtrade goods and responsibly sourced meats.

According to Talking Retail, Shaun McCarthy, chair of the commission, said:

"During the London Games, around 14m meals will be served. The challenge is not just one of scale. We must foster a culture of food that embeds sustainable practices into every link of the supply chain, thinking about health, employment and welfare, not just whether food is 'green'.

"Needless to say, the food should taste great too. The ODA has already successfully tackled the 'burgers or nothing' option at their construction sites, and this is the kind of progress that will create a sustainable food culture that lives on after the Games come to an end."