Levels of awareness of ethical issues in the restaurant industry are “pretty pitiful”.

That's according to a report, "Bringing Ethics to the Table", published in the January/February 2008 edition of Ethical Consumer magazine.

"Many menus make vague ethical claims, like 'local' or 'natural', without giving real information, and staff are often poorly trained to deal with queries,” said Sarah Irving, author of the report. “The restaurant industry would particularly benefit from good environmental and social reporting and better transparency."

But it's not all bad news for ethically minded employees working in the restaurant industry or ethical job seekers looking to get a job in the sector. The research found some chains are showing signs of beginning to grasp the idea of sustainability.

The chain to come out best in the report was Loch Fyne Restaurants (alongside Gourmet Burger Kitchen), the only restaurant with a sustainable fish buying policy to cover all its fish range. It has also switched all its restaurants to renewable energy. However, although it came out on top, the restaurant only achieved an 8.5 out of 20 “ethiscore rating.”

The rating included a score for workers' rights. Many of the companies questioned had been criticised for workers' rights infringements. These include fines from the Health & Safety Executive for JD Wetherspoon, Marston's, Mitchells & Butlers, Whitbread and restaurant group brands Chiquito and Frankie & Benny's.

“It may be that good working practices aren't as marketable as organic or local food,” suggested Charlotte Jarman of Ethical Eats, a London-based network promoting the ethical approach to catering. “Some of the more aware restaurants on sustainability are also aware of the issue of staff conditions and pay and have good practices, but they don't necessarily have joined-up thinking.”

TGI Friday's came out bottom in the research having refused to co-operate. And only JD Weatherspon, Yum! Brands, Inc and Loch Fyne provided comprehensive replies on questions about genetic modification, animal welfare, local sourcing, and environmental and supply chain policies.

 

Ethical Consumer
www.ethicalconsumer.org

Ethical Eats
http://www.sustainweb.org/news.php?id=176

Loch Fyne Restaurants
http://www.lochfyne.com/Restaurants.aspx

Gourmet Burger Kitchen
www.gbkinfo.com

J D Wetherspoon
www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Marston's plc
www.marstons.co.uk

Mitchells & Butlers
www.mbplc.com

Whitbread
www.whitbread.co.uk

Chiquito
www.chiquito.co.uk

Frankie & Benny's
www.frankieandbennys.com

TGI Friday's
www.tgifridays.co.uk

Yum! Brands, Inc
www.yum.com

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