Toasted tea cakes dripping in Yorkshire butter, pole and line caught tuna and sweet potato British salad, cod and chips and lamb rogan josh served with pilaf or saffron rice are among the items on the menu with more than 14 million meals expected to be served during the Games across 40 locations.

London 2012 claim there is focus on affordability, with food and drinks for a family of four costing under £40 ($62/€50) but some prices have already inevitably attracted criticism, including Heineken at the equivalent of £5.90 ($9.20 / €7.40) a pint and a bottle of water at £1.60 ($2.50/€2.00), although water fountains will be available around the Olympic Park, London 2012 promise.

In line with London 2012's sustainability commitments, all fruit, vegetables and cereals are Red Tractor accredited, British and seasonal where available.

All dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry is also Red Tractor accredited as a minimum.

Bananas, tea, coffee, sugar and white and rose wine are Fairtrade or ethically sourced and traditional cheeses are British.

Eggs are British Lion mark free range and all chocolate sold is Fairtrade or ethically sourced.

Besides Heineken, London 2012 commercial partners Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Cadbury and Nature Valley will provide the only branded products on sale.

What's on the menu?
Porridge and maple syrup, made with UK oats and milk – £2.20 ($3.40/€2.40)
Toasted tea cakes, with Yorkshire butter – £2.10 ($3.30/€2.60)
Carrot and cucumber sticks with red pesto hummus – £2.50 ($3.90/€3.10)
6 Jerk Red Tractor assured chicken wings – £3.50 ($5.40/€4.40)
Red Leicester British cheese with British apple chutney and Farm assured lettuce on Oxfordshire bread – £3.80 ($5.90/€4.75)
Jacket potato with Dingley Dell bacon and Freedom Foods chicken in a herb mayonnaise, served with roquete and watercress salad – £5.80 ($9.00/€7.30)
Pole and line caught tuna and sweet potato British salad – £5.90 ($9.20/€7.40)
Freshly carved Dingley Dell hog roasted Red Tractor pork, served in Oxfordshire cross hatched bread roll with mixed leaf salad and assorted accompaniments – £6.50 ($10.10/€8.10)
Grilled Red Tractor chicken burrito – £6.50 ($10.10/€8.10)
Penne pasta Red Tractor chicken and mushroom white sauce – £6.50 ($10.10/€8.10)
Thin crust stone baked 10" pizza with spicy pepperoni, spicy beef, basil and oregano – £7.50 ($11.60/€9.40)
Farm assured Scotch Beef with Long Clawson Stilton Pie, Irish mashed potato with Red Tractor Cream and British butter and onion gravy – £8.00 ($12.40/€10.00)
Cod and chips – from £8.00 ($12.40/€10.00)
Singapore noodle, stir fried egg noodle, chicken, prawns, char sui Pork, chilli and shredded peppers in a hoi sin dressing – £8.50 ($13.20/€10.60)
Lamb Rogan Josh served with Pilaf or Saffron rice – £8.50 ($13.20/€10.60)


To drink
Bottled water – £1.60 ($2.50/€2.00)
Fairtrade Tea from £2.00 ($3.10/€2.50)
Fairtrade Coffee from £2.60 ($4.00/€3.25)
500ml bottle of Coca Cola – £2.30 ($3.60/€2.90)
330ml bottle of Heineken – £4.20 ($6.50/€5.30)
London 2012 red wine 18.7cl – £4.80 ($7.50/€6.00)

London 2012 also aims to become the first ever Zero Waste Games, they claim.

London 2012 has partnered with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to improve packaging and recycling and during the Games event waste from public areas will be channelled into three waste streams - recycling; food and compostable packaging; non-recyclables.

"We want everyone who attends the Games this summer to have a fantastic experience and central to this is the food and drink that's available," said Paul Deighton, the chief executive of London 2012. 

"We have gone to great lengths to find top quality, tasty food that celebrates the best of Britain.

"We believe that our prices are more than comparable to those found at other major sporting events which because of their temporary nature are often more expensive than the high street.

"We are proud that the catering and industry has been quick to adopt the standards of our Food Vision, leaving a stronger and sustainable industry as a legacy of the Games."

London 2012 is also responsible for feeding more than 15,000 athletes and officials across both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over the course of the Games they will be served 1.2 million meals, comprising of 1,300 different types of dishes.

On the busiest day, more than 65,000 meals will be served to athletes.

The main dining room seats more than 5,000 athletes and consists of four zones including British, European, Mediterranean, African and Caribbean dishes and caters for special diets such as halal, kosher, low salt and allergens.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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December 2009: London 2012 promises to showcase best of British food to athletes and spectators