The Award has three levels that encourage additional progress: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Bronze - criteria - No undesirable additives or trans fats
- 75% freshly prepared
- Meat farmed to UK welfare standards
- Eggs from cage-free hens
- Seasonal menus
- Training for all catering staff
- No GM ingredients
- Free drinking water prominently available
- No endangered fish
- Information on display about how and where food is produced
- Demonstrate meeting relevant Government nutrition guidelines
Silver and Gold - criteria Meet bronze, plus achieve points thresholds for ingredients in three categories:
- Making healthy eating easy
- Ethical and environmentally-friendly food
- Championing local producers
Points awarded for every percentage of total ingredient spend.
(1) Making Healthy Eating Easy points are awarded for the following:
- Meat-free day or equivalent
- Steps to serve meat in moderation
- Steps to minimise salt
- Actions to cut plate waste/support eating well
- Actions to promote meal take-up
- Monitoring against food & nutrient-based standards
- Healthy vending
- >50% bread is wholemeal or granary
- Fruit cheaper than dessert (where sold)
(2) Ethical and Environmentally-friendly points are awarded for the following:
- Organic
- Free range
- MCS ‘fish to avoid’
- Freedom Food
- Fairtrade
- LEAF
(3) Championing Local Producer points are awarded for the following:
- Serving food produced in your region
- Serving UK fresh produce above the national average