Since the launch of Nova Scotia’s school lunch program last September, the Education Department has received hundreds of submissions from parents raising concerns about things such as food quality and safety, what ingredients are used in the dishes and whether the meal options cater to specific diets.
The forms are contained in a 212-page document CBC News obtained through a freedom of information request that has anywhere from one to three entries per page. Parents submitted the forms through the lunch program’s website.
The pay-what-you-can program has served more than two million meals since September. Families can pay the full $6.50 cost of the lunch, part of that price or nothing at all.
“My child is trying new foods at his school with his friends and is loving it!” wrote one parent. “The pictures being displayed on your ordering system help him pick out what he is willing to try each week. We appreciate this being offered to all students and it makes nutritional choices fun for all, regardless of income.”
That message was an outlier, though, with most focusing on frustrations and ways that parents think the program can be improved.
“The food is often cold, with portions that are either too small or unappetizingly thrown together,” wrote one parent. “Some days, the meals have included limp vegetables, barely recognizable entrees, and overripe fruit that’s almost inedible.
“It’s frustrating to see that instead of enhancing their day and supporting their health, this program has fallen short in delivering even the basics of a decent meal.”
Amanda Northcott, who leads the school lunch program for the Education Department, said they get a lot of positive feedback from parents. She said the number of submissions through the online portal has fallen 68 per cent since the program’s launch.
“We are really looking at that feedback with an eye for continuous improvement in the program and what we can do to kind of make the menu acceptable for students, keep the menu nutritious and really kind of try to meet as many children’s needs and preferences as we can,” Northcott said.
She said the fact they’ve received only a few hundred submissions relative to the number of meals served shows the program is well received.
In the documents provided to CBC, details such as the names of the people who wrote the messages, their email addresses and the school their child attends were redacted, so it’s impossible to tell whether anybody wrote multiple emails.
One parent wrote that children are coming home every day with complaints about mouldy fruit and food that was overcooked and smelled like cigarettes.
For one parent, macaroni and cheese offered on the first day of the program at their child’s school had them concerned about what the quality of future meals would be like.
“I’m not trying to be mean but boxed Kraft Mac and Cheese honestly looks gourmet by comparison,” the parent wrote.
One parent said their kid would eat anything, but the food quality left their child upset.
“Anyone who promises a kid cheese pizza and serves them an untoasted English muffin with mushrooms should have a long hard look in the mirror,” the parent wrote.
Food safety issues are another popular topic, with one day’s offering of chicken tacos prompting some parents to write in. They said the tacos were delivered in the morning and the food sat in a hallway unrefrigerated for about four hours.
“I hope we don’t see a bunch of kids with food poisoning,” wrote a parent. “This is just ridiculous risky food handling.”
One parent complained about a vegetarian pasta dish that was frozen in the middle. It also didn’t have enough sauce, they said.
One parent said they planned to cancel some upcoming orders because the food appeared raw one day.
Northcott said the facilities where the food is prepared are permitted and subject to regular inspections.
Ingredients are a major concern for parents, especially relating to the diet their children follow.
“We do know that many children’s diets have expanded and that children have exposure to different types of foods, so we tried to balance that on our current menu to offer a variety of meals,” said Northcott.
Many parents asked whether there would be gluten-free or celiac options, as well as if the food was halal.
Northcott said they are looking at reducing potential allergens in the menu and providing gluten-friendly options.
One parent complained of too much dairy in the meal options.
“This is ridiculous,” the parent wrote. “We don’t need cheese in every meal.”
Another wanted specific details about the dairy options.
“I would like to find out if the vegetarian meals include dairy free milk, cheese and sour cream products or actual dairy products …Also, better ingredient lists for vegetarian options list what actual milk products are (dairy, oat, soy, almond based),” they wrote.
One parent wrote that their son followed a strict lacto-vegetarian diet, meaning they do not eat meat or eggs. They wondered if the cheese was of animal or plant-based origin, and asked for a picture of the cheese’s label so they could determine that for themselves.
Another parent wrote about ordering no-meat options for her two sons, complaining the black bean wrap was “littered with breast milk,” pointing to the cheese and sour cream it included.
“I’m so confused, the Canada food guide is clear on the harm eating animal proteins causes,” they wrote.
One parent praised the menu but said it wasn’t kid-friendly.
“Some of their favourites like nuggets, garlic pizza, goulash have not been included and they miss them,” the parent wrote. “While as an adult, I agree chickpeas, tofu and other sources of protein are great, I suspect the majority of children ordering will not feel the same way.”
Another parent felt the food was too diverse.
“Can we get a menu with items kids will actually eat?” they wrote. “These are rural children, they don’t eat ethnic food.”
The school lunch program is offered to about 75,000 students at 268 elementary schools across the province, with about 50 per cent participation by students, said Northcott.
This fall, that will expand by 76 schools as junior high and middle school grades are added. When that happens, just over 100,000 students will be eligible for the program.
“We truly believe that every child deserves access to a healthy and enjoyable meal and we’re definitely committed to making that a reality for Nova Scotia students,” said Northcott.
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