The Government Buying Standard (GBS) for Food and Catering Services (1)
The GBS outlines the standards required to procure sustainable food services, including areas such as:
- Food produced to higher environmental standards,
- Animal welfare and ethical trading considerations,
- The impact catering services have on the environment.
Nutritional standards are outlined as mandatory e.g., reducing salt and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, or as best practice e.g., smaller sized savoury snacks and confectionery. The nutritional standards outlined within the current GBS were updated and published in August 2021, detailing some key changes, including increasing the percentage of products served within services which must meet the salt reduction targets, and some changes to wording within the document.
References
1. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF): updating the nutrition standards. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/802933/gbsf-nutrition-standards-consultation.pdf [Accessed 20th March 2023]