Serving the Public - (Manchester Capitalism) by Kevin Morgan

About the Book

Exploring the food we serve in schools, hospitals and prisons, this book argues that public food provision offers a microcosm of society at large. It highlights how public institutions are using the power of purchase to secure public health.

Book Synopsis

Exploring the food we serve in schools, hospitals and prisons, this book argues that public food provision offers a microcosm of society at large. It highlights how public institutions are harnessing the power of purchase to secure public health.

From the Back Cover

A revealing account of what we feed our citizens in schools, hospitals and prisons.

Access to good food is the litmus test of a society's commitment to social justice and sustainable development. This book explores the 'good food revolution' in public institutions, asking what broader lessons can be learned.

In schools the book examines the challenge of the whole school approach, where the message of the classroom is being aligned with the offer of the dining room. In hospitals it looks at the struggle to put nutrition on a par with medicine and shape a health service worthy of the name. And in prisons it shows how good food can bring hope and dignity to prisoners, helping them to rehabilitate themselves.

Drawing on evidence from the UK, US and Sweden, Serving the public highlights how public institutions are harnessing the power of purchase to secure public health, social justice and ecological integrity. The quest for good food in these institutions is an important part of the struggle to redeem the public sphere and repair the damage wrought by forty years of neoliberalism.

Review Quotes

'This book by one of the most influential contemporary thinkers on sustainable food systems explains why we should relocalise food, and how schools and other local public bodies can contribute to this, by using a largely underestimated yet crucial tool: the power of the purse. It will inspire policymakers to do better, and it will encourage food activists, including parents, to demand more.'
Olivier De Schutter, former UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food and co-chair, International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems

'Food in schools, hospitals and prisons is the "canary" in the food system. How often do we hear politicians promise to address tricky matters by sorting out public provision? The private sector, meanwhile, barely receives political attention. This book explains why public food provision is often a mess and doesn't need to be. It's full of learned stories, great people and wobbly structures on the food frontline. A gem.'
Tim Lang, author of Feeding Britain: Our Food Problems and How to Fix Them

'Why do poor people so often eat poor food? To answer that question, Kevin Morgan takes us on a tour through school dinners, hospital meals and prison kitchens, from Malmö to Oldham. His answer is that our diet is as politically constructed as our housing or our schooling, and all the apps in the world will be of little use. Writing of imagination and sympathy.'
Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior Economics Commentator, Guardian

'Kevin Morgan describes the political, economic and social causes of appallingly unhealthful and disrespectful institutional feeding programmes in schools, hospitals and prisons, and the human and societal consequences. His book provides compelling examples and arguments for why and how we can - and must - do better.'
Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health

'Good food and great cities go together: cuisine has long helped to certify the status of global cities. But the sad reality is far too many people lack access to safe, healthy food. Kevin Morgan shows how the "good food" revolution can help us create better, more sustainable cities and improve the health and well-being of their residents.'
Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class

'One in twenty meals served in the UK is paid for by the government. That is why the transformation of catering in our public sector is key to any long-term improvement in our food culture. A catering service that has the competence and confidence to cook from scratch is essential, because it nourishes the most vulnerable people in society and safeguards our planet at the same time. This book highlights both the challenges and the solutions, and I urge politicians to read it.'
Henry Dimbleby, food campaigner and author of the National Food Strategy

'A compelling look at the power of public food procurement to transform our food system into one that is fairer, healthier and more sustainable. Morgan deftly weaves together inspiring examples of local innovation with a sober assessment of the administrative and economic obstacles to systemic change. This book is an essential read for policymakers and activists alike.'
Nevin Cohen, Director, CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute

'A tour de force that dissects, critiques and champions the role and importance of Good Public Food. Morgan brings to life a topic often dismissed as dull and unimportant. How we feed our most vulnerable members of society underpins how we value food more generally. This book talks eloquently about embracing the power of public food, improving standards, showcasing what can be achieved with thoughtful leadership and ensuring that key vulnerable groups are well fed in order to support them reaching their potential.'
Mary Brennan, Chair of the Scotti

About the Author

Kevin Morgan is Professor of Governance and Development at Cardiff University. He has worked with the European Commission, the OECD and urban and regional governments throughout Europe on place-based innovation strategies.