The Bristol Eating Better Awards (BEBA) were launched in 2017 to promote healthier eating and more sustainable food. Since then, 55 early years settings, 120 schools and 260 businesses have achieved the award.
Given their Association for Events Management Education funded research on the experiences of UK outdoor events attendees with medical, religious and lifestyle dietary requirements (e.g. vegan/vegetarian), Clare MacKay and Dr Ed Little were invited to evaluate the awards.
In collaboration with Bristol City Council (BCC) and Bristol Food Network, Clare and Ed redeveloped the criteria for the early years, school, and business awards.
Making dietary requirements part of the menu
Clare and Ed’s research informed the development of core award actions requiring businesses to ensure that menus include options for customers with dietary requirements, list the ingredients in dishes, and are displayed to make this information accessible.
These changes will make eating in Bristol more inclusive for consumers with dietary requirements. They will mitigate the anxiety these consumers experience when faced with eating outside of the home, and the risk of relying on service staff to relay dietary information to them correctly.
Consumers with dietary requirements experience stigma – from both impatient serving staff and customers queuing behind them – when trying to ascertain if there is food available that they can eat.
The new core actions will help to alleviate this stigma – which originates from describing dietary requirements as ‘special’ or as ‘restrictions’. This marginalises people with dietary requirements and perpetuates their structural inequality. To address these issues, the updated award encourages businesses to:
- Train staff so they can respond to customers with dietary requirements in an empathetic and helpful way.
- Avoid describing dietary requirements as ‘special’ or ‘restrictions’
- Communicate that customers with dietary requirements are welcome
Though open to all Bristol businesses selling food, of note given Clare and Ed’s research, is the impact of the BEBA on events held in the city: Those directly commissioned by BCC Events team will be obliged to prioritise food vendors who hold the award and organisers staging events on BCC land are also encouraged to do so via the site permissions process.
Clare MacKay said:
“We hope our contribution to the business award helps to normalise catering for dietary requirements and promotes the inclusion of Bristol citizens, visitors, and tourists with dietary requirements, mitigating the risks they face when eating outside of their home, and enhancing their wellbeing.”
“We would like to thank Bristol Food Network for connecting us with David Hudgell at Bristol City Council who led the BEBA evaluation, and David for inviting us to contribute.”
Solving real world problems
The evaluation and development of the Bristol Eating Better Award is an example of how UWE Bristol can have an impact beyond the university.
The updated award is now open to businesses, schools and early years providers across Bristol, providing a framework to help them offer food that is healthier, inclusive and sustainable.
David Hudgell, Public Health Specialist for Bristol City Council, who led the BEBA evaluation, said:
“Clare and Ed’s involvement in the Bristol Eating Better Award review ensures that dietary requirements are embedded within the criteria for Bristol’s businesses. This will impact businesses and settings across the city, from event traders, market stall holders, adult social care venues and many more to improve accessibility of food for people with dietary requirements.”
“I would like to thank Clare and Ed for their contributions in this process and ongoing work to support food for people with dietary requirements at events.”
Businesses can find out more about the Bristol Eating Better Award and how to apply here https://www.bristol.gov.uk/bristol-eating-better-award
Clare MacKay and Dr Ed Little are available for consultancy opportunities, please contact Clare.Mackay@uwe.ac.uk