Kids shunning school meals because lunchtime favourite is banned
Ham is off the menu in North Ayrshire
There are fears kids in North Ayrshire could be going hungry in afternoon lessons because their favourite item - a cheese and ham sandwich - is missing from school dinner menus to meet government nutrition guidance.
The most popular item is off the menu in the council's school canteens because of government restrictions on salt and red meat intake.
Kilwinning councillor Donald Reid told an audit and scrutiny committee: “I didn’t realise that ham in school sandwiches was so important and menu consultations are undertaken to ensure meal choices are popular which helps minimise food waste.
“Cheese and ham is the number one favourite sandwich at home and parents keep asking why they are not allowed it at school.
“My ears were burning over the weekend with teachers and academics saying the same thing; that kids are choosing not to have school dinners, all they want is sandwiches and they want ham and cheese sandwiches.”
High in salt
Committee chairman John Bell said: “The Scottish Government gave recommendations on what is available in schools and that has meant there has been a reduction in red meat.
“The issue over ham was because of high sodium content and unfortunately there was not much choice but in my last discussion they were trying to source ham without a high sodium content and had not been able to do that,”
Laura Miller, senior manager (audit fraud risk & safety), said she would contact facilities management about the issue.
Food going to waste
Irvine councillor Matthew McLean, meanwhile, also voiced concern he heard on a strike day that no pupils attended to pick up lunch and they were subsequently binned.
“More than 200 were made on a strike day throughout all of North Ayrshire and only 20 picked them up,” he said. “In a significant number of schools, no pupils turned up.”
Ms Miller said it may be the fact the council still has to have the meal ready to collect and if it was not, that may cause issues but she again agreed to talk to the facilities management team.
Audrey Sutton, executive director of communities & education, said uptake on industrial action days has been quite low but that was partly down to poor weather.
She said they planned to make the food available to schools in local community centres in case there were any concerns about getting into the school on strike days; and any unused food could be shared by local people through these facilities.
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