Concerns over ‘ultra processed’ food in schools

“I cook chicken curry at home, and I can’t imagine how 57 ingredients are necessary unless you add a whole heap of additives.”

The words of “parent and concerned citizen”, Cork County Councillor Ann Bambury (SD) who is calling for a detailed report on inspections carried out last year of schools participating in the Government’s School Meals Scheme.

The School Meals Scheme provides Government funding to schools for the provision of food to pupils. This year, all DEIS and non-DEIS primary schools are eligible for hot meals as part of an expansion of the scheme.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the quality and content of the food provided through the scheme. In a motion at Monday’s meeting of Cork County Council, Cllr Bambury said: “I don’t want taxpayers’ money spent on ultra processed food in our schools and I don’t want my children or other children consuming it. Recently a nutritionist who delved deeply into the list of ingredients found up to 57 ingredients in a chicken curry in a school,” added the Bandon-Kinsale representative. Cllr Bambury also pointed out that teachers and administration staff “are not nutritionists and dieticians”.

She continued: “I acknowledge that the Department (of Social Protection) has inspections that they conduct on site and through online assessments throughout the years – but where are the results?”

Another issue raised by Cllr Bambury was the portion sizes given to school kids & subsequent waste. She said: “Realistically, a five year old is not going to eat as much as an 11 or 12 year old and this is contributing to more waste.”

Fellow Social Democrats Cllr Isobel Towse supported Cllr Bambury’s motion, insisting: “We must not fall into a trap of normalising feeding ultra processed food to our children. It doesn’t make any sense in an era of so much awareness of healthy eating and rising childhood obesity – it’s just shocking that we don’t know what’s in all of these meals,” she added.

Asked recently in the Dáil if she was satisfied with the food being served as part of the scheme, former minister for social protection Heather Humphreys TD, said: “I am committed to ensuring that the nutritional standards of the School Meals Programme offers children a balanced and healthy diet to assist them in meeting the objectives of the programme.

“On any occasion, where there may be any concerns about the quality of food provided under the School Meals Programme in any specific school, they should be brought to my department’s attention, and it will be followed up accordingly,” she added.

Cork County Council will now write to the newly appointed Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary TD, requesting a detailed report on the inspections which took place in 2024 of schools participating in the School Meals Scheme.