We at Pirkanmaan Voimia value high-quality ingredients and use local Finnish ingredients whenever possible. Our meals comply with nutritional recommendations to ensure a good day for all our customers from children in daycare to elderly residents of care homes. The food we serve does not contain genetically modified ingredients or added sodium glutamate. Our procurement criteria address considerations related to traceability and safety of the ingredients, along with animal welfare.
We are continuously developing our operations to always do better.
The countries of origin of the ingredients used by Pirkanmaan Voimia
• Beef, pork and poultry is from Finland, red deer and lamb from the EU or New Zealand
• Dairy products (about 97%) are predominantly of Finnish origin, special cheeses are also bought from the EU area
• Fats, oils and eggs are mainly from Finland
• Fish and fish products are mostly from the EU area
• Ready meals are made primarily in Finland, with a few exceptions made for items from elsewhere in the EU
• Bread and buns are purchased from Finnish bakeries
• Potatoes and cabbage are from Finland, the carrots are mainly from Finland, but sometimes also obtained from abroad on account of seasonal availability
• Lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers are mostly from the EU area, and from Finland when in season
• Most of the apples and pears are purchased from producers in the EU
Animal welfare
Eggs, chicken and turkey
The egg products we use are produced in the salmonella-free area and can be traced to their producer. Our procurement criteria commit us to the objective that by 2020 all the fresh eggs we use are at least barn eggs. For egg products, this objective will be met by 2025.
Our poultry comes from the salmonella-free area and the origin of chicken can be traced to the producing farm. One of the most important indicators of the welfare of broiler chickens is the foot pad index. The good health of the birds’ foot pads is a good indicator of their growing conditions, including litter quality and the health of the birds’ digestive systems. For our next competitive tendering process, a maximum foot pad index score will be defined for the broiler chickens. It will be under 40 (if the flock’s score for foot pad dermatitis is higher than 80, the inspecting veterinarian has to report it both to the producer and the relevant Regional State Administrative Agency).
Pork
The pork we use comes from farms that use the Sikava animal health monitoring system. These farms monitor their pigs’ tail biting, which is an important pig welfare indicator. Tail biting in pigs is an abnormal behavior that results from stress or discomfort that leads the pigs to bite the tails of other pigs in the same pen. To control this problem, routine tail docking is carried out in Europe on a large scale, with the exception of Finland, Sweden and Norway. Sikava also monitors the use of antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics. On Sikava farms, these medicines are only used for treating sick animals by prescription and under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Beef
We purchase our beef from farms that use the Naseva animal health monitoring system for cattle. On these farms, antimicrobial medicines, such as antibiotics, are used for treating sick animals only when prescribed and supervised by a veterinarian. Naseva monitors animal health and welfare through, for example, the following means: healthcare contracts between farms and veterinarians, animal health-related farm visits by veterinarians, annually reviewed animal healthcare plans, laboratory tests, and the cattle’s medicinal records.
Fish
The fish we use is on the yellow or green list of the WWF Seafood Guide. Wild fish must be caught in a way that meets at least the following conditions:•fishing complies with local and international laws
•fishing is at a sustainable level in relation to the fish stock (no overfishing)
•fishing helps to maintain environmental diversity
In addition, the fish supplier must have a social responsibility plan. The plan must make clear how the business respects human and fundamental labour rights, uses social responsibility certification and auditing systems, and employs, for example, young people or the long-term unemployed.
Pirkanmaan Voimia taking Steps to Organic
All Pirkanmaan Voimia units use organic products. For example, all porridge cereals we use are organically produced.
All Pirkanmaan Voimia kitchens have been awarded a Steps to Organic diploma. We have made significant investments in the regular use of organic products and in promoting sustainable development in our operations. Greater use of organic ingredients is also what our customers want. Pirkanmaan Voimia service-centre canteens, homes for the elderly, hospitals and daycare centres are on step two of the Steps to Organic programme, and all other units are on step one.
The Steps to Organic programme is designed to increase professional kitchens’ use of organic products and to raise awareness of organic food.