Good food foundation

Anton Edelmann and Prue Leith are among industry figures who, along with Peter Bazalgette, managing director of Bazal (TV) Productions, have been named as trustees of a new charity to educate children about nutrition, cooking and food in general.

Launched last month, the Good Food Foundation has already carried out research into children's attitudes to food, which found that although there was a general lack of interest in food education, almost half the eight- to 14-year-olds interviewed said they expected to learn about food at school.

Leith, who attributes the apathy shown by the children towards food to lack of opportunity, said: "Anyone who has ever taught practical cooking to children will tell you that they love it," she says. "I've never met a child yet who didn't."

Activities planned for the first year include a Web site providing information and access to resources to support and inspire primary and secondary school teachers who are able to offer food-related education within their schools; and Operation Nosh, a campaign beginning in autumn 1998 to get chefs and other trainers into schools to heighten awareness of food issues.

The Foundation, initiated by BBC Good Food Magazine, will be working closely with the Académie Culinaire de France and Baxters of Speyside in their adopt-a-school project, which aims to teach children to appreciate food and healthy eating.