The Food Foundation

Citation

(1999), "The Food Foundation", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 99 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/nfs.1999.01799cae.001

The Food Foundation

Keywords Nutrition, The Food Foundation

The Food Foundation is a registered charity established to advance the education and awareness of the public, in particular young people, about the benefits of sound nutrition, cooking and other food skills, and the use and appreciation of food and drink.

It is the first credible attempt to pull knowledge, opinion, influence and support from diverse parties across the food world, rather than organisations and individuals that identify with or support particular social, political or commercial interests.

The Foundation aims to ensure that some of the key issues concerning food and nutrition are raised higher on the public agenda and stimulate debate and interest through education and entertainment ­ both in schools and direct to children and parents ­ in order to reach the widest possible audience.

The invitation to become trustees of The Food Foundation was originally extended by the BBC's Good Food Magazine with the aim of establishing a group of experienced, knowledgeable and well connected people who could represent views from across the food world. The abilities, influence, energy and contacts of these trustees are now being used to create and oversee initiatives and activities which will highlight The Foundation's objectives, and also help other like-minded organisations to achieve theirs.

There is Tony de Angeli OBE ­ who was editor of the food trade's weekly "bible", The Grocer, for many years, and now writes and broadcasts about food, on the Jimmy Young programme and others, and often hosts food industry events. Tony is something of an industry specialist, especially when it comes to retailing. And that's the main reason why he was invited to be come a trustee since it was at the suggestion of some of the major multiples themselves that he has the understanding, knowledge and contacts to provide The Foundation with a relevant perspective on retailer interests and views.

Peter Bazalgette is managing director of Bazal (TV) Productions. He has transformed the image of food on TV, and is responsible for a host of programmes such as Food and Drink, Ready Steady Cook and Can't Cook, Won't Cook. His company was also responsible for the production of the Good Food Awards TV programme which was broadcast on BBC2 in autumn 1998.

Anton Edelmann is maître chef des cuisines at The Savoy Hotel and, as well as being one of the greatest and most popular chefs in this country, he is also very active in organisations like Académie Culinaire and various other forums which aim to help young people entering the catering world.

Michael Edwards is vice-president of American Express Services Europe. AMEX has long been associated with activity in the restaurant and hotel scene in this country and is now becoming more involved with credit cards in grocery retailing. Michael has a particular interest in food-related marketing, and also provides financial and commercial advice. He was instrumental in getting seed money from AMEX to fund the feasibility study for one of The Foundation's projects.

Matthew Fort is food and drink editor of The Guardian and, apart from his general knowledge and love of food and drink, he has also been involved with various schemes to encourage children to get involved, including Kids in the Kitchen and Get Cooking. The Guardian is a key medium for The Foundation given its penetration with teachers.

Suzi Leather MBE is a consumer policy consultant to the Government and various other organisations. She is particularly knowledgeable about low-income groups, and therefore helps the trustees to keep a realistic perspective, and not to fall into the trap of devising projects, which are only really relevant to middle-class audiences.

Prue Leith OBE is the ultimate networker in the food world. Prue is a restaurateur, contract caterer, cookery school proprietor, journalist, author, and general expert on food. She is passionate about food education for children, and helps The Foundation liaise effectively with organisations such as Focus On Food, with which she is also involved.

Michael Mackenzie is director-general of the Food & Drink Federation and therefore provides a gateway to the many food manufacturing companies. Apart from his contacts, Michael is also playing an invaluable role in helping to fashion The Foundation's approaches to individual companies.

Tom Sanders is professor of nutrition and dietetics at King's College, London, and is generally regarded as the leading authority in this field. He is also very knowledgeable about what is going on in both the commercial and academic worlds, and provides an informed view about any statements or materials which relate to nutrition, food safety and hygiene.

Mitzie Wilson is BBC Publications' representative. She was the first editor-in-chief of the BBC's Good Food Magazine, prior to which she was food and cookery editor at Woman's Own. Apart from the benefit of her own experience, Mitzie also provides a channel of communication with other BBC departments such as BBC Education.

After much deliberation this group determined that education and enlightenment of young people about all aspects of food are the most important issue for anyone who cares about the future of food.

To achieve its objectives, The Foundation is initiating projects which relate to specific issues and opportunities concerning young people and food, including nutrition and diet, cooking and food preparation skills, promoting public health through education about food safety and hygiene, exploring the role food can play in formal and informal education and generally encouraging the appreciation and enjoyment of all types of food and drink.

In focusing on young people, The Foundation is reflecting consensus across the food world that unless the next generation of adults grows up understanding the importance of food safety, hygiene and nutrition they will not know how to handle, cook, store and eat food, and thus have greater risk of bad nutrition and poor health.

There are also important social and family issues connected with young people and food, as well as the enjoyment and enhancement that knowledge and appreciation about food can bring to the whole process of eating.

The first project initiated by The Food Foundation ­ supported by Tesco ­ was to commission MORI to research the interests of, and opportunities for, communicating with young people about food. The findings underscored the need to address our major objective. Some 29 per cent of the 534 children surveyed were not interested in anything connected with food but 24 per cent expressed the desire to learn. TV, not surprisingly, was the preferred information source (28 per cent) while 25 per cent nominated parents, followed by books and magazines. Forty per cent expected to be taught about food in schools, and this was a clear pointer that the trustees could not ignore.

At the media launch of The Food Foundation in March 1998, educational organisations were unanimously enthusiastic about the idea of a food education Website for primary and secondary schools that would provide quick and easy to access for teachers who wanted to know where to go for more information, services or resources.

The Food Directory, the UK's first ever Web site directory dedicated to providing teachers with easy access to information about food and drink, was officially launched by Tessa Jowell, the Minister for Public Health, on 30 November 1998 at South Camden Community School in London.

Supported by Marks & Spencer, The Food Directory is the most authoritative and comprehensive database of sources that can and do support, inform, advise, facilitate, service and empower schools and teachers to increase education about food and drink.

The Food Directory www.fooddirectory.co.uk provides access to a range of services, resources and information sources that can help teachers to improve the quality, diversity and use of food-related teaching, and create a higher profile for, and interest in, food within schools.

The site has been designed to allow simple and speedy access to any level of computer user. The search facility provides access by subject, category or keywords; and there is also a comprehensive alphabetical index.

This means that teachers can enter the site looking for information ranging from how food can fit into subjects taught within the national curriculum, through to food professionals who might visit the school or where they can take the class on a day out. Alternatively, for those who are not quite sure what they are looking for, it is easy to browse along clearly signposted routes until they find something of interest.

The database also allows users to request specific preferences and will e-mail back to them when the required information is available. Users can also make recommendations and comments, all of which will be analysed on a regular basis in order to provide feedback to other users. Other features of the site will include a users' forum, top ten lists, competitions linked to school projects, a news service and events calendar.

"I am delighted to be helping in the launch of The Food Foundation's Website for teachers", said Tessa Jowell at the launch. "It is absolutely vital that we should be equipping children with the skills to cook. Children need a clear understanding of the importance of nutrition and food hygiene, and the basic cooking skills. The Website will be a useful learning and an important contribution to 'Our Healthier Nation', the Government's strategy on improving the health of the nation."

Although still in a formative stage of its development, the site has already been tested by a panel of teachers across the country. The unanimous view is that The Food Directory is a quick and easy way to find out where to get the information and services they need. A number also noted that it provides "food for thought" for teachers looking for ideas and inspiration.

"The initial feedback is very encouraging but we have only just started the job", commented Caroline Staff, The Food Directory site manager. "Over the coming months we will enlarge the database and listen to comments and suggestions in order to ensure that The Food Directory provides the best possible service to teachers."

There are other active projects being pursued by The Food Foundation in 1999. One, the groundwork for which is being funded by American Express, is to get food professionals to go into schools to give basic demonstrations about food. Like the Web-site, the aim is for The Foundation to provide the missing link ­ acting like a dating agency to get relationships off the ground for schools and food professionals around the country.

Outside schools, The Foundation takes the view that you must entertain and add an element of fun if you wish to spread the message to children and their parents. A families cooking competition is being organised in order to get three generations cooking together. There are important social issues here as well; The Foundation believes that the family that cooks and eats together stays together!

The initial development and day-to-day running costs of The Foundation were underwritten by BBC Worldwide, which continues to support the work of the secretariat.

If you are interested in learning more, and especially if you would like to find out how you might support the work of The Food Foundation in some way, contact Ian Jesnick or Roger Jupe at our secretariat office. Tel: +44 (0) 171 388 7421; Fax: +44 (0) 0171 388 7761; e-mail: FoodFoundation@Btinternet.com