Photos of free UK school lunch packages sparks outrage online

Photos showing food packages being sent to school children in the UK who are learning remotely have sparked outrage online, with many calling the packages “shameful”, “cruel” and “shameful”.

The packages were sent to students who would be eligible to receive free school meals when attending school in person. The UK is currently in its third national block, with most children learning remotely (with the exception of the children of senior officials, who still go to school).

Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United footballer and a supporter of child food poverty, sharply criticized the quality and quantity of the packages, which were provided by a government contractor named Chartwells, a food service company. Many on Twitter also raised concerns.

One of the photos, posted on Twitter by @RoadsideMum, shows a package that supposedly includes food for 10 days. The image shows a sliced ​​bread, a can of beans, slices of plain cheese, three apples, two carrots, a tomato, a packet of pasta, three sachets of yogurt and two mini packets of malt bread.

Basic baskets must contain the equivalent of £ 30 ($ 40) in food to be distributed over 10 days. Parents recently received a £ 30 voucher to cover food during the winter break, but during the school year, food packages are being distributed.

But, as @RoadsideMum pointed out, the package in the image contains about £ 5 ($ 6) in food, mapping costs as if it were purchased at the Asda supermarket chain. This estimate was supported by Jack Monroe, the author of Can for cooking and activist known for campaigning against poverty, who answered agreeing “that’s about five dollars worth of food there.”

Mashable added a similar estimate for the same items from another chain, Sainsburys, for comparison, and the total amount came to just under £ 11 – and that was using total prices per kilo of fruits and vegetables, not individual items.

Further images has been circling connected highlighting the scarcity of food supplied in the plots.

Rashford, who spent most of 2020 campaigning against food poverty experienced by disadvantaged children during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, criticized the food baskets and contacted Chartwells to get to the bottom of the issue.

Chartwells replied to the image tweeted by @RoadsideMum claiming that the image “does not reflect the specification” of their baskets. Mashable has contacted Chartwells for comment, but has not yet received a response.

The UK Department of Education also responded by stating that it is analyzing the problem and added that it has guidelines and standards for basic food baskets. “The plots must be nutritious and contain a variety of foods”, they added.

Rashford tweeted an update topic about the situation after a conversation with Chartwells. He said there is a link between Chartwells and the Department of Education that is due to take place on Tuesday.

Rashford also expressed concern about the number of meals distributed to children, which is currently just one meal a day, Monday through Friday.

Rashford tweeted that it is clear that “there was very little communication with suppliers that a national blockade was coming”.

“We must do better,” he added. “Children shouldn’t be hungry because we are not communicating or being transparent with the plans. This is unacceptable”.

Rashford ended by saying that he had to close because he has a football match, but will provide more updates as soon as the call is made between the Department of Education and Chartwells.

UPDATE: January 12, 2021, 17:54 GMT Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office at 10 Downing Street issued a statement on the images of the food packages, declaring them “unacceptable”.

“We are aware of these images circulating on social networks and it is clear that the content of these food baskets is totally unacceptable,” said the official spokesman for the prime minister in a press release, according to the BBC. “Food baskets should contain food for parents to use to make healthy lunches throughout the week. “

The Department of Education, the spokesman added, will revert to a food stamp scheme like the one implemented during the first blockade in the UK.

Chartwells hasn’t commented yet.

This story is developing …