Private deals block Jamie's school dinners - schools tied into 25 year contracts to serve children junk.

[WideWebWitch]

this is outrageous IMO but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.

[WideWebWitch]

Point me in the right direction btw if someone's already started a thread on this.

[TheVillageIdiot]

disgusting!

and honestly schools being built without proper kitchen facilities and reducing the chance of preparing fresh food onsite. It shouldn't be allowed.

I signed the JO petition but wish there was more I could do. My dd isn't even school age yet.

[MarsLady]

of course! How bloody ridiculous!

[SenoraPostrophe]

well, that's odd, because the government have been "thinking about" doing something about school meals for a long time - since well before the jamie oliver prog - haven't they?

Really I think it is out bloody rageous that they gave away 25 year contracts for anything to do with schools without lots of min standards clauses and some flexibility on the part of the schools/LEA. The one they're talking about in the article has been sub-sub-contracted too, which means it must have been v generous to the company involved (2 can make a profit now).

PFI is the main reason why i am not voting Labour by the way. iraq is the other reason.

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[hunkermunker]

All parents should give their children packed lunches for as long as it takes to make Scolarest et al get out of the school catering business.

If they can't afford them, co-operatives should be set up. If they don't have time to make them, they should pay someone else to do it.

[cod]

Message withdrawn

[hunkermunker]

But at least the catering companies would go out of business and then they could start afresh with decent food.

[tiddlypom]

Hi WWW - I started this thread here to ask people to use the pre-election period to get something done about it.

[Chandra]

Sa that convenience food is soo popular other wise it would be worth it to start a boicot not only in the schools (by sending lunchboxes) but by stoping buying their products.

[tiddlypom]

In Merton we are feeling very upbeat about this and have all sorts of possible tactics up our sleeves.

[marialuisa]

Went to visit my gran in the forest of dean at the w/e, there was a piece in the local rag about parents picketing a local primary school that is trying to ban kids taking in sweets, crisps etc. for break. Some of the kids and parents photographed ...

[tiddlypom]

Sounds like the school mishandled it - they should've had a meeting to consult parents. And what were the parent governors doing?

Don't think parents should be blamed - blame the marketing campaigns that make kids want junk.

Imagine what a difference it would make if every fruit and vegetable had its own marketing campaign - including TV ads - to persuade kids to eat it.

[tiddlypom]

...especially if they were in competition with each other.

[SoupDragon]

Thing is, DSs school is catered for by Scolarest and they are sorting the menu out in conjunction with the school. They do have catering facilities onsite though.

[tiddlypom]

Yes, all the contractors will probably jump to it if they're pressured to.

[WideWebWitch]

Senora, you know pfi makes me want to spit too. This is so wrong. I agree, parents ought to just boycott school dinners unless they're decent. I'd love to see one of these contracts. I do remember you saying this cod.

[WideWebWitch]

Sorry tiddlypom, didn't see the other thread until I just followed your link. Do you mind my carrying on ranting here? I'd be interested to hear if you get anywhere with your campaign.

[tiddlypom]

That's fine - v pleased to see it bumped up!

And it's another thing we can all agree on (more or less).

[tiddlypom]

Bumpety bump for the evening shift.

I'm off out now - Motherinferior insists I should get out more !

[motherinferior]

Bumping

[WideWebWitch]

Bumping too and wondering if I'm the only one (other than people who've posted) outraged by this? It's scandalous, surely?

[Caligula]

Totally scandalous. But then, everything about PFI is.

Funny that it's not an election issue.