THE cost of lettuces has risen by 12 per cent, costing Sefton Council an extra £1,564 in its school meals budget this year.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg...
The cost of potatoes has risen by 27 per cent, melons by 100 per cent and carrots are up by 124 per cent, and all at a time when council officials say they are under more pressure than ever before to provide healthier school meals thanks to the recent campaign by TV chef Jamie Oliver.
If approved by councillors, the cost of a school meal in Sefton will now have to rise from £1.40 to £1.50, with subsequent rises scheduled annually, to plug a £115,000 shortfall.
To many parents – although not necessarily all the pupils, some of whom could happily live on chips! – the drive for better nutrition is hugely welcome, despite the increased costs it may bring.
It is not just pupils who are set to enjoy better quality food however.
Sefton Council’s new ‘scoresonthedoors’ scheme where every food establishment in the borough is inspected for a variety of measures, including food hygiene and confidence in management, should also improve results.
Venues are given a star rating of nought to five, with everyone inspected detailed on the website.
Well done to Jackson’s, on Nevill Street, which is now officially Southport’s first five star chippy!
Last month’s inaugural Southport Food & Drink Festival, now set to become an annual event, is also sure to drive up standards locally. As well as a self-appointed champion for improving school meals, Jamie Oliver is also the face of Sainsbury’s.
With the rising standards of food in our town, as the Sainsbury’s slogan says, it can only encourage more and more people to go out and ‘try something new today’ – and they will now do so having greater confidence in whatever they will be eating.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »