Knives out for school that banned meat – as famished pupils race to McDonald’s

AN all-girls school that has banned meat and packed lunches is causing pupils to head to McDonald’s after lessons because they are ‘starving’, parents claim.

There is no choice in the vegetarian or fish dish available at lunchtime. Bringing food from home is also forbidden at Woolwich Polytechnic for Girls in southeast London to encourage ‘equality’.

But parents have criticised the near£3 cost for the meals, which some claim are too small and poor quality. One child was reduced to tears by her fish ravioli.

A mother said: ‘Food is either vegetarian or spicy that my child does not enjoy, so comes home and goes straight into the kitchen to eat. They also aren’t allowed packed lunches because they want the students to be healthy. Going to McDonald’s after school because they haven’t eaten all day isn’t any healthier.’

The school, which has pupils aged 1116, opened in September. The nearest McDonald’s is only 0.2 miles away.

Head Subreena Kazmi said the ‘family dining initiative’ had allowed ‘students of all faiths and different dietary requirements to eat together’. She said a meat option would be available after discussions with families, but added: ‘We don’t allow packed lunches because we want all the children and staff to eat healthily together and engage at lunchtime.’

A parent said: ‘Surely it doesn’t matter if kids bring packed lunches as long as they’re all eating together?’

Waitrose has apologised for showing adverts for meat and dairy products during ITV’s first vegan cooking show, Living On The Veg. A Waitrose spokesman said they had not been aware of the subject of the programme.