What, you don’t like my not cooking?
September 19, 2006
The only thing that bothers me about this Soil Association press release is that the ‘mums’ are getting the lion’s share of the blame. Surely in 2006 both parents are responsible for feeding the cubs?
18 September 2006 - for immediate release
Soil Association Dinner Lady, Jeanette Orrey and London Parents Group, Merton Parents, call on the “fish and chip” mums to stop the deliveries.
On the day that Jamie Oliver’s school meals show hits our screens, Soil Association school dinner lady, Jeanette Orrey, and London Parents group ‘Merton Parents for better food’ [1], are to meet the Rotherham mums to call for a stop in the lunch time junk food deliveries.
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Image of Jamie Oliver in a fatsuit © Jamie Oliver and used entirely without permission
In response to genuine concerns raised by the Rotherham parents, the Soil Association, Merton Parents and local parents are to meet to discuss how all parties can work together to achieve healthy school meals that pupils will eat.
Jeanette Orrey, Soil Association’s School Meals Policy advisor, said,
“We now have a golden opportunity to change the eating habits of the next generation. For some children school meals are the only hot meal of the day. It is vital to feed those children properly. We must all work together, head teachers, catering staff, parents and children to make these new menus work.”
In Merton there has been dramatic improvements in the quality of the school food. Jackie Schneider, Chair of Merton Parents, said,
“Children who previously claimed to ‘hate all that healthy stuff’ are now wolfing it down, regardless of their backgrounds. The Rotherham mums should stop their lunch time deliveries. Let’s focus on the real issues in the school canteen: how long do kids have to queue? Are the meals made from good quality ingredients, well cooked and tasty? We need to listen to the students concerns if we are going to have any success in increasing healthy food uptake.”
Rotherham Mum, Julie Critchley, said,
“I want my children to eat healthy food. The issues here are about the lunch hour and the food. I am delighted that the Soil Association and Merton Parents want to meet, I want to find out from them how other schools have done it.”
The experience gained by the Soil Association, through the Food for Life campaign [2] and Merton Parents working together with over 750 schools has shown that children, whatever their background will eat healthy food.
For more information please contact:
Emma Noble, Soil Association Food for Life Manager Emma Noble +44 (0)7900 376 462 or Chair of Merton Parents, Jackie Schneider, on +44 (0)779 521 3425
Victoria Record, Soil Association Media Office Co-ordinator on +44 (0)117 9874580
2. Merton Parents Group formed in 2005 and has helped radically reform the meals in Merton
Press Office T: +44 (0)117 914 2448 ISDN: 0117 314 5040
Soil Association Campaigning for organic food and farming and sustainable forestry
Bristol House, 40-56 Victoria Street, Bristol BS1 6BY T: +44 (0)117 314 5000 F: +44 (0)117 314 5001
www.soilassociation.org
Version 290.1 | Issued18/09/2006
Thank you Peter Redstone for the headsup. I’ll make sure to try the Rocombe Organic ice cream next time I’m in England.
Jamie Oliver’s Junkfood Amnesty project
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Image of Jamie Oliver in a fatsuit © Jamie Oliver and used entirely without permission
debra at 14:55 | | post to del.icio.us
