Thread by @ajjolley

I see that poor quality food parcels are back in the news

Once again we’re seeing cantering firms profiteering on the back of FSM claimants

There is NO excuse for this behaviour

I was among those who highlighted the very same occurrence back in March

Short thread

Firstly it’s worth noting that not all caterers are exploiting the situation

Many, especially the smaller catering forms or in house school catering services are doing a fantastic job

But we are seeing some really disturbing offerings, done on the cheap with v poor content

Given my long standing interest in school meals, a couple of things really stand out

First is that the catering industry lobby group @LACA_UK put out guidance on the expected content

laca.co.uk/laca-view/free…

The school catering industry v much want to steer schools away from vouchers, they spent considerable time and effort meeting and lobbying @vickyford and @educationgovuk on this

Anyone looking at last Friday DfE guidance might conclude the lobbyists were quite successful

The problem is that many of the big backers of @LACA_UK are the self same big multinational caterers who are putting out the worst examples

It’s been reported that the widely shared @RoadsideMum meal was from Chartwells

This would be the same Chartwells who employ @SforsterLaca

Who is A Business Development Director at Chartwells as well as National Chair of Laca

The same caterers who received so much criticism in the first lockdown

Last time they blamed local chefs and managers, excuses we should expect to see again

They don’t ever list their costs, or explain how they have the gall to charge £15

Instead they try to greenwash themselves

I’m sure @MarcusRashford will be hugely disappointed to hear that @Chartwells_UK are one of the companies on his Child Food Poverty Taskforce

As someone who is really supportive of good school catering, I’m disgusted that people make a conscious decision to give these parcels to the most vulnerable families

Management understand what’s possible in the budget and shouldn’t shirk responsibility

Schools need to be proactive on this, like thebschool local to me who sent the following after rejecting their food parcels

Schools should take @educationgovuk guidance with a pinch of salt

Unless the caterers are providing exceptional quality parcels, everyone should give serious consideration to giving parents vouchers

Just to highlight the fact that it can be done

That school caterers can put out a really helpful pack

👇🏻

From the wonderful @samward60443746

https://twitter.com/samward60443746/status/1347634309432270851

It’s literally chalk and cheese from some of the terrible stuff we’re seeing from some suppliers

https://twitter.com/StG_MrsBarry/status/1348693056854368263