Month: October 2015

There is a lot of press this week regarding the correlation with red meat and cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), evaluated the carcinogenicity of the consumption of red and processed meat and have concluded that there is evidence of an increase risk to cancer. The experts concluded that each 50 gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%.

Red meat refers to all types of mammalian muscle meat, such as beef, veal, pork, lamb, mutton, horse, and goat.

Processed meat refers to meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes to enhance flavour or improve preservation. Most processed meats contain pork or beef, but processed meats may also contain other red meats, poultry, offal, or meat by-products such as blood.

Examples of processed meat include hot dogs (frankfurters), ham, sausages, corned beef, and biltong or beef jerky as well as canned meat and meat-based preparations and sauces.

If you currently eat more than 90g (cooked weight) of red and processed meat a day, the Department of Health advises that you cut down to 70g.

Ninety grams is equivalent to around three thinly cut slices of beef, lamb or pork, where each slice is about the size of half a piece of sliced bread. A cooked breakfast containing two typical British sausages and two rashers of bacon is equivalent to 130g.

Why not make a pledge with us to cut down on processed and red meats? You could aim for more meat free meal days in the week and then choosing lean poultry for your meat days?

It’s been a busy year at Good Food in Greenwich since our inaugural Steering Group meeting in October 2014.  Building on our recognition as a Sustainable Food City, we initially formed a secretariat group to build some of the structures and ideas, and then invited organisations and businesses to sit on the steering group where the name Good Food in Greenwich was agreed.  We also developed a Good Food Charter for individuals and businesses to sign up to to make a pledge to do something towards Goof Food.  We have developed this website where we regularly update stories and news to keep people abreast of what’s going on in the network.  We have held 3 big events including a winter Launch in December last year, a Food Growing Conference in June, and a large public event in July in Woolwoch,  and we have attended many more.  We’ve been busy on social media with very active Twitter and Facebook accounts and have sent out 4 newsletters.  This is all fantastic public facing work and we’ve engaged with hundreds if not thousands over the year this way.

However, the Steering Group and sub groups have also been beavering away working on the Action Plans that show the progression of work and plans for the future.  We have achieved a huge amount through these groups and you can see some of the highlights below:

• ›Greenwich to feature in the new Good Food for London Poverty Report and have been commended for the work we are doing
• ›Mulgrave fruit & veg stall supplying easy, affordable access to families in the area
• ›Thanks to our partnership with Fareshare, Rhodes Bakery now deliver all their surplus bread (over 40kg) to them
• ›A project between Trust Thamesmead and Waste Services, RBG has piloted separating food waste in a block of flats – a notoriously difficult thing to achieve
• ›Woolwich Common Community Centre is soon to be Fareshare Hub operating to distribute food to community groups and projects
• ›Greenwich University pledged zero waste to landfill and have succeeded in this – see their sustainable food policy here
• ›We have launched a Gleaning Project to help use ripe fruit falling from trees and Waste Services are supporting this project too
• ›Healthier Catering Commitments has gone from strength to strength working with take aways to make their offer healthier, and will now include tips on waste and other Good FiG priorities
• ›GSPlus, the school meal provider has re-branded as Incito & employed a community chef
• ›They have also been awarded Silver Food for Life, with Gold in 2 schools, and have also received Compassion in World Farming Awards for RBG for Good Egg, Good Chicken & Good Dairy. They are the only London borough with 3 awards!
• ›GCDA has delivered 6 Food Business Training days to over 60 businesses & individuals
• ›Greenwich University host Sustainable Fortnight offering free sustainable cooking sessions
• ›GCDA’s Made in Greenwich Project works with people in recovery to produce healthy homemade meals and will now be a Fareshare Community Food Member, using food surplus
• ›Growing Conference held at Woodlands Farm showcasing local & national projects and work began on a food growing strategy
• ›GCDA launched ‘How to set up a Food Growing Project’ training – the first day was held in September and attended by 13 people including schools & community groups
• ›Foraging walks with Charlton Athletic Community Trust have been trialled and will run this November during Foraging Fortnight

And these are just some of the amazing things that have been going on.  We have partnered with over 60 businesses and organisations, recruited a volunteer, co-ordinated 4 steering group meetings and 16 sub group meetings to move the action forward, and so much more! We are so delighted with the work we’ve achieved, which couldn’t have happened without the support from and action of some amazing partners, particularly Royal Borough Greenwich who had the vision to fund this work in the borough, and the people of Greenwich.  However, there’s still much more to be done, so join us to help make Greenwich a fairer, healthier and more sustainable borough.

If you’d like to get involved, please email goodfig@gcda.org.uk and come along to our steering group this Tuesday 13th from 10am – 12pm at Fareshare.  Drop us a line if you’d like to come along.