School meals in Dumfries and Galloway are being disrupted by the cost of living crisis and food supply difficulties.
As price inflation has continued to rise for 13 consecutive months, suppliers have been failing to provide the same levels of food to schools – and some deliveries are just not turning up.
The cost of buying ingredients has also led to the education department calculating that an extra £300,000 is required in funding for the current year.
An annual performance for the council’s education committee states: “The catering service continues to monitor the impact of the highest volume products that are used within the school meal service.
“The service is also experiencing a shortfall of food commodities from our suppliers with little or no notification due to the current situation regarding fuel prices, insufficient foods and climate to name a few.
“This issue is exasperated due to the new nutritional legislation narrowing the market of products that are available.
“Shortfalls or non-delivery of food products has an impact on the delivery of nursery, primary and secondary school meals service as foodstuffs being procured must meet the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Act.
“A further increase of food costs in school meals can be attributed to the additional fruit and vegetables that must be provided as part of the new legislation as well as premium prices of nutritionally compliant foods associated with the new legislation.
“The service estimated in May, 2022, an average cost increase of up to 20 per cent of all food commodities associated with school meals and estimated a cost of approximately £300,000 additional funding regarding the increase in food cost for year 2022/23.
“With ongoing inflation continuing to rise, the service is frequently monitoring food costs and liaising with colleagues in finance regarding further financial pressures that are likely to arise.”
Councillor Tracey Little asked if pupils entitled to free school meals still received them during recent strike action by teachers.
Council facilities manager Alan Mawson replied: “On the strike day, we provided grab bags for statutory free school meal recipients who were entitled to them.
“They were produced on the Wednesday before the strike action took place on the Thursday and were distributed discreetly throughout all the schools in Dumfries and Galloway.
“Feedback is that it went extremely well and that provision will be in place for any further action.”
The education report also detailed how the uptake of free school dinners at high schools has decreased from 71 per cent to 59 per cent.
Youth council member Finlay Anderson asked: “The report states that there’s work under way to come up with an alternative to increase secondary student uptake.
“I was wondering, for example, if cash payments are being considered as an alternative.”
Mr Mawson replied by saying that the poor uptake of free school dinners is an issue across Scotland.
