The Food Directory aims to provide teachers with a comprehensive and easily accessible directory of sources on food and health issues.

It is the first major activity of the new Food Foundation, a registered charity set up to advance public education on the benefits of good nutrition.

The foundation describes itself as "the first credible attempt to pool knowledge and support from diverse parties across the food world, rather than organisations and individuals that identify with or support particular social, political or commercial interests".

Its main focus is children and young people.

The Website was launched by the Health Minister, Tessa Jowell, at South Camden Community School in London.

It is estimated that a quarter of the UK's children rely on school for their only cooked meal of the day.

The government is proposing to set compulsory nutritional standards for school meals.