A healthy eating message will be given to Londoners

The London Food Strategy, which was launched on Monday, includes plans to develop catering courses and a kitemark to brand locally grown food.

Mayor Ken Livingstone is providing �3.87m over the next three years to fund the project.

About 25% of London's businesses sell food and drink and accounts for about one third of all spending.

There are about 12,000 restaurants, more than half the nation's total, in the city, providing about 60 different cuisines from across the world.

Londoners want food that is good for them, good for the planet, and good for the people who produce it Jenny Jones, chair of London Food

The London Food Strategy covers five themes including improving health and reducing the negative environmental impacts of food. Other ideas include working with food and drink businesses to promote greater efficiency and more responsible waste management.

Ken Livingstone said: "Obesity levels are rising and many people don't have easy access to healthy and nutritious food.

"There are aspects of London's food system which are wasting resources and contributing to climate change."

Jenny Jones, chair of London Food, a partnership of food experts and organisations, said: "Londoners want food that is good for them, good for the planet, and good for the people who produce it.