Pupils learn what’s in the water (From Watford Observer)

Pupils learn what’s in the water

3:50pm Monday 7th March 2005

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A GROUP of pupils from Garston Manor School were given plenty of food for thought when they visited the Three Valleys Water Environment Centre in Bushey in February.

The trip was part of a Groundwork Hertfordshire project looking at the processes that take place before food reaches the dinner table.

The Our Food scheme examines food production and distribution and the impact of pollution.

During their visit to the environment centre in Clay Lane on Friday, February 25, the Year 11 pupils from the school in Horseshoe Lane learned how Three Valleys Water, which claims to produce the cleanest tap water in Europe, treats and monitors water.

The pupils compared this water with bottled water. They also discussed the marketing and transportation of the water and its sources of the water.

As part of the project, the pupils were due to visit Pizza Express in Watford in March to look at food preparation and spend time in the restaurant's kitchen making pizzas themselves.

The group will tour a local supermarket to see how food is handled before it reaches the shelf and also learn about refrigeration and storage issues.

Ben Levinson, from Groundwork Hertfordshire, said: "I think the project is timely, especially given what has happened recently with the Sudan 1 food dye scandal.

"The basic premise is that the kids are educated about the various facets of the food production process.

"They look at everything from Fairtrade to storage and distribution issues with regard to biodegradable materials and use of fossil fuels and what actually goes into their food.

"One of the most interesting topics arising from the Sudan 1 incident was that people were made to realise they really do not know what goes into a lot of the food they eat.

"We are trying to address this and give the students the knowledge to make intelligent, informed decisions about their diet and nutrition."

Mr Levinson said one of the key aims of the project was to educate children about the benefits of buying locally grown produce, both to the environment and their own health.

After completing the project, the pupils will receive a certificate to certify they have learnt about food production, distribution and packaging, and the environmental and health implications.

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