The Royal United Hospital in Bath has been awarded the Soil Association’s prestigious ‘Food for Life’ Bronze Catering Mark for the food it serves for patients, staff and visitors in the hospital’s public restaurants.
The Catering Mark provides an independent endorsement for organisations who demonstrate a continued commitment to serving food that is seasonal, sustainable, free range, local, traceable and healthy.
Organisations awarded with the mark must meet strict criteria and are regularly audited to ensure standards are kept high.
On Wednesday 23rd December, Lizzi Testani from the Soil Association visited the RUH to present a plaque to the team responsible for meeting the high standards required to obtain the mark.
The RUH is one of just 29 hospitals in the UK to have achieved the accreditation.
Mike Newport, Head of Hotel Services lead his team through the rigorous assessment process and was delighted to receive the award.
He said: “We have a proven and longstanding commitment to providing good quality, healthy and nutritious, freshly prepared meals here at the RUH.
“We are already a recipient of the Gold Award for B&NES Council’s ‘Eat Out Well’ initiative and consistently carry the highest safety rating from the Food Standards Agency.
“Achieving the Bronze Catering Mark from the Soil Association is further evidence of our focus on constant improvement to the offering of healthy food at the Trust.”
Lizzi Testani of the Soil Association said: “The Catering Mark is the result of lots of dedicated effort by the team at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
“Achieving this endorsement is an exceptional achievement in the healthcare sector and a demonstration of the hospital’s dedication to serving fresh, ethical, sustainable food that meets nutritional guidelines.
“Healthy places must be serving food that is good for the environment and good for us.”
