Waltham Forest has become the first London borough to drastically cut sugar and salt from ketchup in its school canteens

Waltham Forest Catering, which produces around 15,000 school meals a day to almost 50 schools across Leyton, Leytonstone, Walthamstow and Chingford, has become the first school caterer in London to drastically cut salt and sugar content in ketchup it serves.

The council says the shift to using Real Good Ketchup removes the “equivalent of a sugar cube” from every plate at mealtimes. 

The move comes as Waltham Forest schools have been recognised for having the “best” and most ‘climate-friendly’ lunch menus in the country.

Earlier this year schools in the borough won a gold ProVeg School Plates Award, which recognises the “positive steps caterers take to increase their plant-based menu offerings”. And now, ProVeg has ranked Waltham Forest schools as being the most ‘climate friendly’ in the country.

Waltham Forest Catering, responsible for meals in 43 primary schools across Waltham Forest, has developed a range of healthy, plant-based recipes that ProVeg School Plates Awards says has “proven extremely popular” with children. Their dishes include spiced chickpea and sweet potato pilaf, smoky vegetable and bean jambalaya and jackfruit pasta bake.

Susan Brettle, operations manager at Waltham Forest Catering, said: “We are always looking for ways to reduce sugar and salt on our menus while keeping the meals nutritious and tasty for the children. We are looking forward to working with Real Good Ketchup to help reduce sugar and salt in every kitchen in the borough, whilst also being able to serve those children with allergies a product they can enjoy too.”

Liz Jones, founder of Real Good Ketchup said: “Real Good Ketchup has been available in independent schools for some time. However, we have always wanted to work with councils to serve children all over the country with a healthier and nutritionally-compliant ketchup. Waltham Forest Catering is a perfect fit for us as a ProVeg School Plate Champion, its approach to nutritious eating including vegan and vegetarian options is brilliant for school children across the Borough. We are delighted it is making this ketchup change.”

For more information on Waltham Forest Catering go here

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