Campaigners were invited in to the Home Office, although the chicken boxes were not allowed past security.
A group of campaigners were invited into the Home Office after turning up with solutions to knife crime written on chicken boxes.
The move by content agency Word on the Curb was a response to the Government’s decision to spend more than £57,000 distributing anti-knife-crime messaging on packaging in chicken shops across England and Wales.
The boxes are printed with real-life stories about young people who have chosen to pursue positive activities instead of carrying a knife.
The Home Office’s campaign was branded “embarrassing”, “stupid” and “borderline racist” by critics including shadow home secretary Diane Abbot, after it was unveiled last week.
Hayel Wartemberg and Ndubuisi Uchea took to the streets with chicken boxes and encouraged Londoners to write their own responses on them by hand, with the aim of delivering the messages to the Home Office.
Solutions offered by members of the public included interest-free business loans for young people at risk, specialised officers in schools and investing in education and youth services.
Nana Opdeu-agyeman, who turned up dressed like a chicken, said: “Their campaign was very demeaning. I think they need to go back to the drawing board and think of different solutions.
“We just went to Stratford, I don’t see why they couldn’t do the same.”
The boxes, which were pinned on a large board, were not allowed past security and in to the building.
But after gathering outside, the group were invited in to meet with two staff members, who gave them an email address and encouraged them to send across their suggestions for tackling violent crime.
Mr Uchea said: “We are hoping that this would lead to some sort of action. Our idea was to utilise Londoners and subvert this campaign and turn it into something far better.
Mr Wartemberg said: “We feel happy. We have been able to speak to someone and people have seen our campaign and had an opinion on it which is enough.
“We are only as happy as the outcome. If nothing happens on it you are negating the power on what we are doing.”
He added that the boxes were “absolutely” a waste of money, which could have been put back into youth services.
The Government’s #knifefree messaging will appear on 321,000 chicken boxes at outlets in England and Wales including Morley’s, Chicken Cottage and Dixy Chicken.
On the campaign’s announcement, Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “These chicken boxes will bring home to thousands of young people the tragic consequences of carrying a knife and challenge the idea that it makes you safer.
“The Government is doing everything it can to tackle the senseless violence that is traumatising communities and claiming too many young lives, including bolstering the police’s ranks with 20,000 new police officers on our streets.”
PARIS (AP) — Freshly cooked bread, select cheeses and a broad veggie offer will be among the meals to be offered to athletes and visitors during the 2024 Paris Olympics — including, of course, gourmet dishes created by renowned French chefs.
About 40,000 meals are expected to be served each day during the Games to the more than 15,000 athletes from 200 different countries housed at the Olympic village.
Visitors, too, will be able to enjoy some specially created snacks at the different venues.
French food services company Sodexo Live!, which was selected to oversee the catering at the athletes’ village and 14 venues of the Paris Games, said it has created a total of 500 recipes, which will notably be offered at a sit-down eatery for up to 3,500 athletes at the village, meant to be the “world's largest restaurant."
“Of course, there will be some classics for athletes, like pasta," said Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, global CEO of Sodexo Live! But the food will have a "very French touch.”
Athletes will also have access to “grab and go” food stands, including one dedicated exclusively to French cuisine cooked up by chefs.
Renowned French chef Amandine Chaignot, who runs a restaurant and a café-bistro in Paris, on Tuesday unveiled one of her recipes based on the iconic croissant.
“I wanted the recipe I suggested to be representative of the French terroir, but I wanted athletes to enjoy it at the same time,” she told the Associated Press. “It was quite obvious for me to make a croissant that I could twist. So, you have a bit of artichoke puree, a poached egg, a bit of truffle and a bit of cheese. It’s both vegetarian and still mouthwatering.”
Every day, during the July 26-Aug. 11 Games, a top chef — including some awarded with Michelin stars — will cook in front of the athletes at the Olympic Village, “so they’ll be able to chat and better understand what French cuisine is about — and to understand a bit of our culture as well,” Chaignot said.
Daily specials will be accompanied by a wide range of salads, pastas, grilled meat and soups. Cheeses will include top quality camembert, brie and sheep’s milk-based Ossau-Iraty from southwestern France.
The Olympic Village will also feature a boulangerie producing fresh baguettes and a variety of other breads.
“The idea is to offer athletes the chance to grab a piping hot baguette for breakfast," said baker Tony Doré, who will be working at the Olympic Village's main restaurant.
Athletes interested in other than sports, will even be able to participate in daily bakery trainings, and learn to make their own French baguette, said Doré.
In an effort to provide as many options as possible, meals offered will revolve around four cuisines: French, Asian, African and the Caribbean and international food.
Paris 2024 organizers have promised to make the Games more sustainable and environment-friendly — and that includes efforts to reduce the use of plastic. To this effect, the main restaurant at the village will use only reusable dishes.
Additionally, organizers say all meals will be based on seasonal products and 80% will come from France.
Plant-based food will represent 60% of the offer for visitors at the venues, including a “vegetarian hot-dog," said Philipp Würz, head of Food and Beverage for the Paris 2024 Committee.
There's “a huge amount of plant-based recipes that will be available for the general public to try, to experience and, hopefully, they will love it," said Würz.
The urban park at the Place de la Concorde, in central Paris, will offer visitors 100% vegetarian food — a first in the Games’ history. The place will be the stage for Paris 2024’s most contemporary sporting disciplines: BMX freestyle, 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and breakdancing.
AP journalist Nicholas Garriga contributed to this report.
AP Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games
Fish dishes, prepared by 3-star chef Alexandre Mazzia, are presented Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Twisted croissants with artichoke puree, a poached egg, a bit of truffle, and a bit of cheese, created by French chef Amandine Chaignot, are seen Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
Chocolate breads made by French baker Tony Dore and that will be served during the. Olympic Games are seen Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
French chef Amandine Chaignot, of the restaurant "Pouliche", who will prepare food for athletes during the Olympic Games, answers questions Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
A bread salad made by chef Stephane Chicheri is presented Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
French baker Tony Dore prepares baguettes, like those that will be served during the. Olympic Games, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Paris. Some 40,000 meals will be served each day during the Games to over 15,000 athletes housed at the Olympic village. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
