Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch halted its government-funded school lunch programme on Monday after teachers discovered that meals supplied by Compass Group were rancid, mouldy and foul-smelling, with some children having already eaten portions before the issue was identified.
Principal Peggy Burrows told state-funded media several cartons were opened and all were inedible, describing the meals—supposed to be mince, potatoes and vegetables—as completely putrefied.
Compass Group collected the remaining lunches and is investigating how widespread the contamination was, while staff will now be required to check every meal before distribution.
Burrows, who previously sought permission to make meals onsite due to ongoing issues with the scheme, called this the worst food-security failure she had ever seen, though no students were reported sick by day’s end. Parents have been urged to watch for symptoms of food poisoning as the Ministry of Education reviews the incident.
Sabotage?
I guess putting a use-by date on the food would have had a negative impact on their profit margin.
Yes a hit job for sure
An apt metaphor for this government…..rancid, moldy, foul smelling…..
Bioterrorism?