FREE-RANGE eggs, local veg and ethically-sourced meat will soon be on the menu in schools and care homes.

Newcastle City Council will bring in its Animal Cruelty Free Food Policy following a meeting of the council tomorrow.

This policy will cover all council restaurants, schools, care homes, meals on wheels, banqueting and hospitality services and focuses on providing food which has been ethically sourced and has a low carbon footprint.

The council made an assessment of all its food contracts including eggs, frozen food, fresh meat, groceries, sandwiches, bread and milk.

This assessment was based on the Farm & Animal Welfare Council’s (FAWC) Five Freedoms Standard, which focuses on protecting an animal from unnecessary suffering throughout its life.

The council will be working on improving the planning of menus and working with suppliers to reduce the council’s carbon footprint.

Improvements have already been made by the city council, including providing free range eggs across all council restaurants, schools and hospitality services, as well as ethically-sourced fresh meat.

Sandwich fillings and bread have also been approved by the assessment as have some of the frozen foods and groceries which are used in council kitchens.