Correspondence: London Food Commission

Date:
c.1984-1990
Reference:
PP/TLA/A/1
Part of:
Archive of Professor Tim Lang
  • Archives and manuscripts

Collection contents

About this work

Description

Correspondence with Tim Lang as Director of the London Food Commission.

This file series covers 1984-1990, although exact dates of individual files may cover only parts of this date range.
File contents are varied and can contain, in addition to correspondence, reports, memoranda, literature, newspaper cuttings, articles, minutes of meetings, conference papers, food and health magazines. Tim Lang's side of the correspondence is normally in the form of a photocopy.

A very wide range of issues relating to food and nutrition is covered reflecting the interests and activities of Tim Lang and of the London Food Commission, including: food safety in general, government food and nutrition policies, any current issues in food hygiene and safety such as salmonella in eggs, listeria in uncooked, unpasteurized and processed foods and BSE from beef, school meals cooking processes and nutritional content, food irradiation, nutrition and elderly people, public health controls on foods, safety and nutritional content of 'junk' or 'fast' foods, methods of food preparation (e.g. poultry) and processing, catering processes and practices, cook-chill process, use of chemical pesticides in agriculture, animal parts and other ingredients used in processed meat based foods such as burgers and sausages, farming methods, animal rearing practices, environmental factors in food production, economic factors in food supply, national and local (borough) food policies, consumer rights, food, nutrition and health education, methods of animal rearing and food preparation abroad regarding products imported to the UK, and organic farming.
There is also correspondence relating to conference programmes, publications, promotions, health education campaigns, research projects, requests for information, invitations to talk at meetings, conferences and seminars, campaigns and efforts by local groups or individuals and support groups, the way food issues are reported in the media and the LFC's involvement in food health and safety publicity.

This particular series is divided into files of correspondence with organisations and files of correspondence with individuals. The organisations files notably contain correspondence with television and radio broadcasting companies - national, local, large and small; charities; health promotion companies; local authorities and local health authorities; agencies connected to universities and colleges; individual councils; universities and colleges; semi political organisations; pressure groups; business associations; professional associations; labour associations and unions; EU organisations; community projects and organisations; health, consumer, education and nutrition associations; catering companies. Coverage is UK and abroad. With the individuals' files note that they are in fact often writing under the umbrella of an organisation. Correspondents include individual members of the public, scientists, academics, politicians, researchers, people asking for jobs, people asking for information, councillors, MPs, Euro MPs (MEPs), children, parents, parent groups representatives, school teachers and school pupils.

Publication/Creation

c.1984-1990

Physical description

11 boxes

Arrangement

Although the series is arranged in an alphabetical sequence the following should be noted:

Contents within each file are not organised in strict alphabetical order, therefore correspondence with one person or organisation may be found scattered throughout the file.

The method of filing is often inconsistent, with individuals sometimes filed under their surname rather than the organisation they are representing, or vice-versa where correspondence has been filed under the organisation name even though the content relates more to the individual and the individual's views,activities and purpose of writing.

Inconsistent filing also means that some correspondence with an individual is filed under their surname and some correspondence with the same individual is filed under the organisation they belonged to at the time.

Now and then it is not quite clear why an individual or an organisation is filed under a particular letter.

Occasionally material has been filed incorrectly.

This arrangement may mean a longer time needs to be spent in identifying the correct file, for example, when looking for correspondence with a particular individual it is advisable to also look under the name of the organisation/s they belonged to as well as their own surname.

Biographical note

The London Food Commission (LFC) was a non-governmental organisation formed in Dec 1984. It was set up by the Greater London Council (GLC), following a series of reports on food and nutrition published by the GLC's Economic Development Unit. It was supported by a GLC grant of £1 million over a period of five years from Apr 1985, its official launch date. It ran for six years and was wound down in 1990, becoming the Food Commission (UK).
The LFC functioned as an independent public group, a "think-tank, strategic campaigner and public education point"(1). Founding members were Tim Lang, Robin Jenkins, Eric Brunner, Lesley Gillham, Susan Dibb and Peter Snell. Tim Lang was its Director from 1984-1990. Staff included nutritionists, psychologists, scientists, journalists and science campaigners as well as administrative support staff, volunteers and student placements. The Commission was primarily involved in in social, economic and technological aspects of nutrition and food, general food policy, consultancies, education and training. It produced numerous reports as well as courses and books; held meetings and launched campaigns which generated wide-spread publicity; contributed to the cross-party political and environmental frameworks which led to the Food Safety Act 1990; educated the public on myriad food and health matters which have since gained and retained unprecedented place in the field of public interest and concerns.
Notable areas of activity were in food production and preparation standards, cook-chill catering, food poisoning 'scandals', food irradiation, BST, BSE, food poverty, school meals, additives, food adulteration, pesticides, food labelling, fast food, consumer protection, food supply for ethnic minorities and food economics.
Further information on the history and achievements of the London Food Commission can be found in Tim Lang's chapter in David Smith's book Nutrition in Britain, (Routledge, 1997).
(1) Tim Lang, from his chapter in Nutrition in Britain edited by David F. Smith (Routledge, 1997), p.247.

Terms of use

Restricted until 1 January 2075.

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Accession number

  • 1093