How’s your dinner?

Pupils asked to give their feedback on school meals

Pupils across Perth and Kinross Council are being asked for their views on school dinners because the introduction of a new menu has seen a drop in uptake.

Perth and Kinross Council has launched a survey to gather opinion.

The survey, which is being promoted by youth information service Young Scot, asks pupils for their opinion on the current menu and asks what should be improved, such as speed, customer service, availability of product information, quality of crockery and cutlery, and food packing.

They are also asked what is important to them when it comes to their school dinners.

It comes just months after a photograph of a child’s grey-coloured burger at Blairgowrie High School was posted online, causing uproar.

At the time, a number of parents said they would stop sending their children for school meals because of the photograph.

However it is understood the burger, which was defended by Tayside Contracts, is not the catalyst for the survey.

Councillor Grant Laing of the SNP, which ran a campaign last year against proposals to give children frozen school meals made at a central production unit in Dundee, said: “There has been a slight drop off in the uptake of school meals in Perthshire.

“The idea with the survey is to ask the children who are actually eating the meals what they think.

“We want uptake to increase because there is correlation between having food inside you and your ability to concentrate.

“But we also want to ask children about the whole dining experience rather than just the food.”

Cllr Caroline Shiers, convener of lifelong learning at Perth and Kinross Council, said: “I am really interested to see the feedback.

“We know there has been a bit of concern with the new menus from Tayside Contracts, which have been introduced in line with the new government guidelines.

“I understand there has been a drop off in uptake and we hope this survey will help because it is important children get a healthy, hot lunch in school.

“I am not convinced the burger or the central production unit has had an impact on this, I understand it is the change in menu.

“But this survey will get to the nub of the issue and in my experience Tayside Contracts have taken on board any issues and addressed them, and I am sure it will be the same with this.”

Young Scot says certain criteria must be met when making school dinners.

This includes maximum levels of fat, salt and sugar, and minimum levels for nutrients such as fibre, protein, calcium and iron.

Fried food can only be made available three times and week, and oily fish such as salmon and mackerel must be served at least once every three weeks.

Sweets and table salt are also banned, and drinks and sauces are strictly controlled in the dining rooms.

Young Scot added: “We’re looking to make the offer as attractive as we can.

“Please be mindful that responses like ‘more pizza, more chips, more chocolate, more bacon rolls’ will not be helpful as they simply can’t be provided.

“However, we’d like to hear your ideas as to what healthier eating options you might like.”

The survey can be completed online at www. surveygizmo.eu/s3/90212839/School-MealsSurvey