Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded for upholding a ban on the use of endangered fish species, such as Atlantic cod and haddock, in its catering services.
The College received its third Good Food on the Public Plate award for signing up to the Sustainable Fish City pledge- an agreement by London organisations to only supply ethically-sourced fish and fish products.
The award recognises Queen Mary’s commitment to protecting fish stocks on the Marine Conservation Society’s ‘Fish to Avoid’ list. It follows on from previous awards for sustainable food procurement and the use of free-range eggs over those that are battery-farmed.
Rosie Boycott, Chair of the London Food Board, which advises Mayor Boris Johnson on food issues in the Capital, presented the award on 15 March at City Hall.
Emma Baker, Food Services Manager in Events and Hospitality QM, the hospitality brand of Queen Mary, said: “The signing of the pledge is a natural progression of our existing sustainable food sourcing policy, and commitments to ensuring animal welfare in our operations recognised previously. All of our efforts are aimed at minimising the impact of our operations on the environment.”
Louise Maxwell Symington, Co-ordinator of the Good Food on the Public Plate project, run by the charity Sustain and supported by the Mayor of London, commented: “Working with Good Food on the Public Plate, our award-winning public institutions have proved that it is possible and cost-effective to serve good food to London’s schoolchildren, hospital patients and students, in a way that also benefits British farmers, farm animals and the environment. We encourage all of London’s public sector institutions to follow their inspiring lead.”
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