How TV chef put food on the political agenda

IN 2005, Jamie Oliver started the Feed Me Better campaign.

Its aim was to improve the quality of school dinners and to encourage pupils to eat more healthily.

The TV series Jamie’s School Dinners propelled the topic to the top of the political agenda that year. His emphasis on cooking fresh food continued in the series Jamie’s Ministry of Food in 2008.

In it he worked with people in Rotherham, South Yorkshire to create his first Ministry of Food centre, teaching cookery.

Jamie also set up the Fifteen restaurant project, training disadvantaged young people.

In 2015 Jamie campaigned for a sugar tax on fizzy drinks.

He told MPs on the House of Commons’ Health Committee a tax would be the “single most important” change that could be made.