School serves up old mac and crisps

School children had to endure re- heated macaroni from the day before . . . topped with CRISPS.

The astonishing meal was served up as proper food at a primary school in Ayr.

The crisps of an unknown flavour were spread over the top to give the look of a tasty crust.

The revelation was branded “disgraceful” this week amid concern that the new production kitchens that serve many South Ayrshire schools are not producing enough food.

Grub is made and ferried by taxi from the main kitchens at the larger primaries to be served by dinner ladies at a cluster of other sites.

A total of seven production kitchens in South Ayrshire were closed in a bid to save cash.

SNP Councillor Nan McFarlane knows the name of the school where the macaroni and crisps was served but wishes to keep it anonymous.

But it is understood that the school involved also cooks meals for others nearby.

She said: “I was contacted by a parent and could not believe what I was hearing. I was told the children were getting leftover macaroni cheese from the day before with crisps crunched on the top.

“I thought we were going down the route of a nutritious and healthy meal for lunch? It is appaling and is a disgrace.

“As far as I am lead to believe teachers who normally tucked into the school meals are now not doing so.

“They are taking their own food in and I am keen to know why this is the case.”

There is a suspicion that because just one kitchen is serving a number of schools that the volume of food has been scaled back.

There are a total of ten primary schools in Ayr and Councillor McFarlane is keen to find out how much money the council has actually saved by closing kitchens.

The issue arose at a meeting of Troon Community Councillor when Councillor Phil Saxton revealed he was “concerned” about kitchens in Troon.

Struthers Primary is set to go from 202 pupils to 441 within ten years and does not have a kitchen were food is made.

Meals are currently made at nearby Muirhead, which will itself increase in size from 135 kids to 173.

Despite being asked the direct question why re- heated macaroni and crisps were served up, secretive South Ayrshire Council refused to answer.

David Burns, Head of Housing and Facilities, said: “Our priority is to ensure that school lunches are nutritional and well balanced, and provide the quality meals our pupils deserve.

“Main meals cooked at our production units are exported safely and securely out to other schools, while some snack items are prepared on site by schools without production kitchens.

“Where a school does not have a production kitchen, we provide a set number of export dinners to reflect the level of demand and there is always enough to ensure all children get a nourishing lunch.

“Regular quality audits are carried out with children and teachers, and we will also be surveying children on what they think of our school lunches.”