Feeding the Olympics: How and why the food for London 2012 should be local, organic and ethical
In aiming to stage the greenest games ever, London’s bid promised to provide “local, seasonal and organic” food. A new report
Feeding the Olympics from the Soil Association,
Sustain and
nef calls on London to deliver the promise to be the greenest and healthiest Games in terms of the food they provide, and sets out how this can be done.
The report also highlights that London 2012 Olympics offers a unique opportunity to highlight the relationship between physical fitness and healthy food, to transform the food available at all major events, and to showcase the benefits of local, seasonal and organic food on a world stage.
Food plays a vital role in climate change; around 20% of the UK’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions are caused by our food and drink. These emissions can be significantly reduced if we all shift towards eating organic, local, seasonal food, and less meat and dairy products. The Games could also help promote sustainable fish consumption, and ensure that any imported food meets Fairtrade standards. Two of the leading sponsors of the Olympics, McDonalds and Coca-Cola, want to associate their brands with the image and ethics of the Games.
The contradiction between their leading products and the 2012 Games ‘healthy’ and ‘green’ credentials are clear and have attracted a good deal of criticism, from politicians, the media and the medical community. The report challenges Coca-Cola and McDonalds to meet the promises set out in the bid by serving 75% unprocessed, 50% locally sourced, and 30% organic food and drink. Coca-Cola should pay for access to free non-bottled drinking water for all Games visitors.