Food parcels ‘an insult to families’, says Johnson

BORIS Johnson has condemned some of the free school meal offerings being sent to families as “disgraceful” after images of poor-quality food parcels were widely shared on social media.

The Prime Minister said photos of meals delivered to parents during the latest lockdown were “appalling” and an “insult” to the families who had received them.

His comments came after Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford said he had spoken to the PM about the issues with parcels.

The England striker tweeted: “He has assured me that he is committed to correcting the issue with the food hampers and that a full review of the supply chain is taking place.”

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson warned that companies which supply poor free school meal parcels will be named and shamed if they fail to deliver against food standards.

Food provider Chartwells has now announced it will add breakfast into its parcels for children eligible for free school meals after it acknowledged there were local issues following school closures.

Speaking to the Commons Education Select Committee, Mr Williamson said he was “absolutely disgusted” after seeing a picture of a meagre parcel delivered to a disabled mother-of-two.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked the Prime Minister if he would be happy for his children to be living on such meals to which Mr Johnson told the Commons: “I don’t think anybody in this House is happy with the disgraceful images that we’ve seen of the food parcels that have been offered. They’re appalling, they’re an insult to the families that have received them.”

The mother who shared the viral image of the meagre free school meal food parcel described how depressing it felt to look at its contents, estimated to contain just over £5 of food.

Sarah, who does not want to be identified to protect her two children, is disabled and relies on free school meals. She told BBC Breakfast: “As I unpacked that food parcel in my living room and looked at the contents, it felt very sad and very depressing, and one of my children came in and saw me laying this out on the floor and asked why.”

Sarah posted the image on Twitter under the name Roadside Mum, and said: “2 days jacket potato with beans, 8 single cheese sandwiches, 2 days carrots, 3 days apples, 2 days soreen, 3 days frubes. Spare pasta & tomato. Will need mayo for pasta salad.

“Issued instead of £30 vouchers. I could do more with £30 to be honest.”