SUPPORT OUR
SPONSORS

Organic Valley

Dr. Bronner's
Magic Soaps

Botani Organic

Aloha Bay

Eden Foods

Ode Magazine

Mountain
Rose Herbs

The Green Guide

Organic Food for UK Hospitals
and Public Institutions

From <www.organicts.com>

UK: POWYS HOSPITAL TO SUPPORT ORGANIC MILK

June 21, 2002 Soil Association

Catering staff at Bronllys Hospital in Powys will serve organic milk to
patients and staff this week (from Monday 24 June) - thought to be the first
such initiative in the UK. The move comes as part of a Soil Association
project to promote the use of organic produce in public organisations.

Organic milk is produced by cows which are kept to the highest animal
welfare conditions. In addition, no GM-feed is allowed, and the routine use
of antibiotics is banned. Government research has shown that traces of the
toxic pesticide Lindane - linked to cancer and hormone disruption in humans
- have been found in non-organic milk.

"The Soil Association is working to encourage hospitals, schools and other
public bodies around the UK to use organic suppliers. Spain, Italy, Denmark,
Sweden and France have introduced organic food in public organisations and
we need to do the same, to support our farmers and the environment," says
Patrick Holden, Director of the Soil Association.

According to the Soil Association, around 1.8 billion meals are served
through public institutions each year (2) but changes to legislation are
needed to allow public sector buyers to favour suppliers that provide
environmental and social benefit, such as local organic suppliers.

A spokesperson from Powys Health Care NHS Trust, which manages
Bronllys Hospital, said: "We are pleased to support the Soil Association
in its campaign to promote the wider use of organic produce and support
for local producers. We would very much like to be able to use more locally
produced foodstuffs in the Trust, but under current legislation, public
organisations are currently precluded from specifying in tenders that produce
must be 'local' and the additional costs of organic farming rarely enable producers
to give the lowest quote." It is currently illegal to specify local goods
in the contract for tender because of World Trade Organisation regulation on
fair trade. While it is not illegal to specify 'organic', it is difficult to
justify under UK Best Value legislation, which usually favours the cheapest
contractor.

Along with the Soil Association, the project is supported by Cardiff
University, Powys Food Links, Powys County Council, Powys Health Promotion
Unit, Powys Health Care Trust, National Farmers' Union, NAWAD (National
Assembly for Wales Agricultural Department) and Powys Local Health Alliance.

Organizations who are interested in finding out more about local or organic
sourcing can contact the Soil Association Local Food Links Department on
0117-914 2425.