24 January 2008 - Food on offer to students at Sussex University is often unhealthy, environmentally damaging and unethically produced, according to a film released this week.

‘Food at US’, which was made by two Sussex students and was shown to students for the first time this week, examines the social, environmental and health impacts of food available on campus - and marks the start of a ‘Jamie’s School Dinners’ style campaign for universities.

As well as undercover footage the film also contains interviews with caterers, staff and leading food campaigners including Dr Caroline Lucas, the Green MEP who hopes to become the Party’s first MP at the next election, and Felicity Lawrence, journalist and author of bestsellers including ‘Shopped’.

Dr Lucas said: "Students at Sussex are committed to ethical and environmental issues and want their place of learning to become an example of best practice food policy.

"’Food at US’ reveals the poor quality of ingredients used on campus, food procurement policies that seek out cheap food rather than supporting local farmers.

"All this could be reversed quickly: Sussex University really could be a beacon of best practice if its caterers change the way they buy ingredients, cook, label and market the food they sell to students."

The film’s co-director and Sussex student Lydia Medland said she made the film as the start of a campaign for healthier, more sustainable and more diverse food on campus.

She said the film asks why the university doesn’t source more food more locally from around Brighton, why food isn’t more diverse or healthy enough and why a recent consultant’s review didn’t learn from the recent school meals shake up, focusing instead on image.

Dr Lucas, who represents South-East England and hopes to become MP for Brighton Pavilion, has written to the University’s Vice-Chancellor asking him to view the film and support its aims.

ENDS