Key Takeaways
- A food poisoning warning was issued after several Christchurch school children ate school lunches covered in thick mould
- The meals were part of the Government’s school lunch programme and were provided by Compass Group NZ
- The school claims they are not responsible for the situation, stating that the food is delivered daily and leftovers are removed each day
- An investigation is underway, with the Ministry of Education and MPI working together to determine the cause of the contamination
- No reports of student illness have been made, but the school has been advised to monitor students and report any illness to Te Whatu Ora
Introduction to the Incident
The recent incident of food poisoning at a Christchurch school has raised concerns about the quality of food being served to students. The school lunch programme, which is part of the Government’s initiative to provide free lunches to students, has been marred by the discovery of mouldy and furry food being served to children. The Associate Education Minister, Seymour, has stated that it is not clear if the issue was caused by a mix-up at the school or with the food supplier, Compass Group NZ. However, the school’s principal, Burrows, has denied any responsibility, stating that the food is delivered daily and leftovers are removed each day.
The School’s Response
The school’s principal, Burrows, has emphasized that the school is not responsible for the situation. She stated that as soon as teachers realized the food was mouldy and furry, they took action to prevent further consumption. One of the teachers even decided to eat the lunch to ensure that the students were not eating contaminated food. The school has a system in place where food is delivered daily, and leftovers are removed each day, which suggests that the contamination may have occurred during the delivery or preparation process. Burrows has also stated that only one of the two batches of food provided to the school appeared to have mould, which further supports the theory that the contamination may have occurred during delivery or preparation.
Investigation Underway
The Ministry of Education and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have launched an investigation into the incident. Helen Hurst, hautū (leader) operations and integration, Ministry of Education, has stated that they are working with the school and MPI to determine the cause of the contamination. The investigation will aim to identify the source of the mould and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The School Lunch Collective, which is responsible for providing meals to schools, has also stated that they are working with the school and MPI to better understand what happened. They have emphasized that they take pride in their food quality and have measures in place to ensure that their food meets the required standards.
Food Safety Measures
The School Lunch Collective has stated that their kitchens are verified and audited regularly by an independent MPI-verified provider, and they follow the Food Act, Food Control Plans, and related regulations. These measures have been in place since the beginning of the programme, which suggests that the contamination may have been an isolated incident. However, the fact that mouldy and furry food was served to students raises concerns about the effectiveness of these measures. The investigation will need to examine the food safety protocols in place and identify any weaknesses or gaps that may have contributed to the contamination.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The incident highlights the importance of ensuring that food served to students is safe and of high quality. The investigation will provide valuable insights into the cause of the contamination and identify areas for improvement. The School Lunch Collective has stated that they will work with the school and MPI to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The Government’s school lunch programme is an important initiative that aims to provide free lunches to students, and it is essential that the food served is safe and nutritious. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and attention to detail in ensuring that food safety standards are met.
