Head calls for ban on pupils packed lunches

Jan 17 2009 by Paul Loraine, The Journal

A HEADTEACHER has suggested the Government could be lobbied to ban packed lunches from schools.

In a report – titled the 2009/10-2010/11 Budget Update – which went before Gateshead Council’s cabinet this week, details are revealed of a meeting between headteachers and council officials.

The council yesterday made clear they have no intention of following through on the idea, despite its appearance in a report which went before the cabinet.

The identity of the teacher in question remained unknown last night.

The report reads: “Discussion took place around school meals and whether charges for managing the packed lunch service could be considered.

“It was suggested that Parliament be lobbied to ban packed lunches, or enable schools to monitor the contents.

“A marketing campaign to promote school meals would be developed within Gateshead.”

Yesterday Gateshead Council’s director of learning and schools, David Mitchell, said: “We can confirm the comment was made by an individual headteacher in a meeting about the council’s budget consultation process and represents the views of that individual only.

“The report serves to summarise for members the informal discussion that took place around saving proposals.

“We have no intention of passing the costs of managing the school packed lunch service on to parents.

“But we have a genuine concern to promote healthy eating and reduce childhood obesity; that while the Government is providing a great deal of support and guidance on what constitutes a healthy school meal, and we work to those guidelines, it could do more to encourage some parents to provide healthier packed lunches for their children.” Jamie Sadler, director of Newcastle-based healthy eating charity East End Health, said banning packed lunches was a step too far.

“I don’t know if I agree with banning packed lunches,” he said.

“I’m a keen supporter of school meals. They have improved drastically over the last couple of years. Speaking from experience, I know they have improved drastically but, in terms of the uptake of school meals and packed lunches, it is about 50-50.

“I can understand why people would want to ban them, in a way. Since the nutritional standards came in, you know your kids are getting a balanced meal and they are getting everything they need.”

Meanwhile, Billy Peebles, 40, the father of four children who attend Thomas Hepburn School in Gateshead, said: “Two of mine take packed lunches and two have school dinners.

“It should be the parents’ choice. We put healthy stuff in – a piece of fruit or a wrap instead of a sandwich.

“It would be a bit silly for them to ban packed lunches altogether. They are probably thinking parents are putting rubbish in the kids’ sandwiches.”

Dale Robson, head of transport, catering and cleaning at Gateshead Council, the service which delivers the school meals service, added: “The School Food Trust believes in schools having whole school food policies that encompass the provision of packed lunches from home that are consistent with the standards for school food.

“Gateshead Council supports this view as this is likely to support adoption of the school food standards, assist with increasing school lunch uptake and ensure that all children benefit from eating quality food during the school day.

“Having a whole school food policy which encompasses packed lunches is one of the requirements of the National Healthy Schools Standard.

“More than two thirds of Gateshead’s schools have achieved this standard already and all are expected to hold the standards by December 2009.”