It's a brexit one...

[kumbyah]

I've just read that the government have asked schools to state how they will ensure they have enough food for school lunches if there is a no deal on 31st October?
Now I haven't been one to overly worry about brexit and it's effects but this in itself is kind of worrying isn't it? Aibu to think this could really be the case and aibu to be shocked by this?

YABU for this to be a massive surprise to you. YANBU to be concerned about it.

I'm horrified that the govt are delegating the responsibility of there being enough food in the country to other agencies than themselves. Surely ensuring adequate food and water supply and civil order is the whole point of govt

Where did you read this OP? Interested to read link if you have it.

It was in the guardian yesterday, I'll find it for you hang on. It isn't the first I've read about it though, at all.

here you go www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/18/schools-told-to-check-they-can-provide-meals-after-a-no-deal-brexit

Other worry is if fuel shortages teachers or other staff not able to get in therefore schools will need to close.

Can you imagine the fortunes of a government who let something like that happen on their watch? Kids, at school, going hungry?

The relevant political party would be haunted by the headlines for a generation at least.

The HT at our primary said don't worry when I asked him last year. Wonder what he'd say now?

I think anyone who voted for this should go to the back of the queue for food and medicine personally.

Ok, that's worrying. WTF is a school supposed to do though?

Ok, we can stockpile pasta and tomato sauce. No, it doesn't meet nutritional standards. And then what?

"Please Sir, I want some more gruel..."

There's only so much room in a freezer for them to stockpile meat, frozen veg etc. I dunno - have lentils got protein in them?

@goodjobsteve kids at schools in the UK are already going hungry due to cuts by this gov. Horrible

@Yadid , there are plenty of threads on this topic on MN. It's not all about pasta and frozen fish fingers.

I agree with the point of the article though that if they had given a list of things to stockpile along with recipes, that would be useful.

But just telling them to assess their preparedness sounds stupid and unhelpful to me.

Problem is now is too late. Even if schools did have the storage space unless they have been menu planning, buying and storing stuff for months they won't have enough to last very long. Not all schools have their own kitchens either, they have their meals prepped at another school then they are delivered in.

Does it even indicate how long they should be preparing for? As in, how long do they anticipate food shortages being?
It's all a bit mental really.

Ah yes- those heady sunlit uplands beckon with their looming food shortages, stockpiling of medicines and constitutional chaos. Well done to the government 🙄. Personally I think you YANBU to be outraged but YABVVU to be at all shocked.

All that chat about ‘scaremongering’ and ‘Project Fear’ is coming home to roost isn’t it.

I'm assuming I will be feeding my dd rather than food provided by school if it comes to that.

For some children the only decent meal they get in a day is their school lunch.

One more case where the most vulnerable in society suffer.

The likes of Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees Mogg will be fine though, so we can all sleep happily in our beds at night.

The thing is; if the Tories have starving kids, people dying as a result of medicine shortages because of Brexit they will be hauled over the coals for an entire generation.

Now bear with me; The Tories have been in power for a decade or so - and under their watch we've seen the rise of food banks and kids starving anyway. However, this is all now in stark focus. Your typical Tory doesn't need to use a food bank - austerity to didn't by and large affect them. But people now have a lot greater awareness. Yes there are some that do think Brexit should happen in the words of Boris "Do or Die". The hardcore lot - but once there are queues trailing through Kent, people stockpiling and categorically empty shelves, things will have to change as they affect ALL of us.

A lot of people seem to think that come 31 October and we leave it will all be finally settled and over. Once they realise it's just the beginning, and wise up to the fact that government is so preoccupied with Brexit that everything else is going down the hole then the mood of the country will change. I see it happening daily. People increasingly seeing not only how damaging Brexit would be but indeed Boris Johnson unravelling as PM.

I have assumed the same Bellini despite the fact that usually she has school dinners at lunchtime. We pay for them but many at her school don't :(

I'm assuming I will be feeding my dd rather than food provided by school if it comes to that.

There are many families that depend on school providing a proper meal every day, and budget accordingly. These families don't have spare income to provide that at home, hence why food banks are so much busier during the school holidays.

That's not a criticism at you, you do what is best for your family, but I worry so much for those who are already struggling. The government doesn't give a shit about them.

MrsMaiselsMuff
I bloody know that. Which is why I have been lobbying on here for a compromise.
But when it comes down to it, my priority is my dd.Fucking sick we even have to think of it

It's continuity planning. All industries are being asked to highlight any potential risks or issues and put plans in place to mitigate against them (if possible). It's just common sense really. If there is likely to be delays in getting food into the country, the company's who supply food to schools need a plan in place for how they'll manage this.