THE Isle of Wight Council has been named and shamed for not having a policy of buying UK produce.
But the authority says it is not only going to buy British, it is planning to use and promote Island produce wherever possible.
The council was responding to the criticism from the Countryside Alliance. Television cook and countrywoman Clarissa Dickson Wright is leading the alliance’s campaign urging public bodies to buy and serve more British produce.
It revealed through the Freedom of Information Act the Isle of Wight Council was among a fifth of local authorities in England and Wales without a formal policy for procuring British food.
But Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for the economy, Cllr George Brown, said: "The council’s new corporate plan, due to be published shortly, will state the Isle of Wight Council will promote Island-produced goods and we will outlining in an updated economic strategy how this will be achieved.
"Already, however, as part of its day-to-day business, the council does much to support local producers.
"As part of that, earlier this year, when the council announced it was lowering the cost of school meals, we also unveiled plans to use more Isle of Wight-sourced ingredients such as flour, milk, eggs and fresh vegetables.
"The council is also successful in promoting local producers in the national publicity it generates around food-related events such as British Food Fortnight."
• The link to the Isle of Wight’s British Food Fortnight events is http://www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/shuttlextra/travel/4637568.Island_celebrates_British_Food_Fortnight/
Reporter: richardw@iwcpmail.co.uk