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03 February 2026
NHS England and the Soil Association have announced a new partnership that will see 20 hospital trusts supported to achieve Food for Life Served Here (FFLSH) certification, with all application fees fully funded through the programme.
The initiative will help participating hospitals demonstrate the high quality of the food they serve, meeting rigorous standards for sustainability, animal welfare, nutrition, and freshly prepared meals. Alongside certification, the programme will gather valuable data linked to the proposed Government Buying Standards for Food, including insights on suppliers and higher environmental production standards.
"This partnership will be a key step in ensuring positive outcomes are delivered by the public money spent on food within these hospital trusts and in building our understanding of the food being bought and served. Having this knowledge and data will help Government to better understand how to capitalise on its purchasing power, informing any changes to public sector food procurement policies in due course."
Rachel Bailey, Deputy Director - Agri Growth, Trade and Technology, Agri Food Chain Directorate, Defra
Caron Longden, Head of Business Development at Soil Association Food, said the organisation is delighted to be working with the food team at NHS England, adding:
“Food for Life Served Here provides a robust baseline standard, showing food purchased meets good welfare standards and is cooked from scratch using minimally processed, seasonal ingredients. We check for compliance against national guidelines on food and nutrition, so we are proud to support hospital trusts with this important data collection.”
Early adopters are already seeing strategic benefits. Erica Bell, Support Services Manager at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, described achieving FFLSH certification at Stepping Hill Hospital as “an important strategic milestone.” She continued:
“High‑quality, nutritious, and sustainable food plays a vital role in patient outcomes, staff wellbeing, and the wider NHS ambition to deliver consistently excellent care. Food for Life reinforces our commitment to fresh, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, while supporting our progress towards NHS Net Zero goals.”
Bell also highlighted the alignment between FFLSH and the trust’s work on IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative), helping ensure safe, dignified nutrition for patients with complex needs.
NHS England commissioned the Soil Association in December 2025 to engage 20 hospitals, with the aim of enrolling all hospitals onto the Food for Life Served Here certification by March 2026. The programme will help build a clearer national picture of hospital food quality while empowering caterers to showcase healthier, more nutritious meals.
The Soil Association currently works with 18 hospital trusts already certified to FFLSH, with a further 13 in the application process. The partnership deepens a long‑standing relationship with NHS England as both organisations work to improve and champion excellence in hospital food.
"When hospital sites truly understand the quality and origin of their food, they’re not just serving meals, they’re investing in patient recovery, staff wellbeing, and a more resilient, ethical supply chain. The partnership between the Soil Association creates confidence and certainty with NHS purchasing and helps teams realise the importance of food sustenance."
Phil Shelley, National Lead for Food NHS England