William Eichler 10 October 2022

Nearly two million children face food shortages

Nearly two million children face food shortages image
Image: Pepgooner / Shutterstock.com.

The rising cost of food has left nearly two million school children facing food shortages, a new survey has revealed.

LACA, the professional body representing school meal providers, conducted a survey of school meal providers operating in 9,874 schools, feeding 1.8m pupils a day.

The organisation found that 91% of respondents were experiencing food shortages and over 60% said this has not improved since May 2022.

Bread, fish, cheese, pasta and potatoes were the items most affected, the survey found.

Three-quarters (76%) of the respondents reported that they have had to change their menu because of food shortages. Over a quarter (28%) are now using more processed foods to cope with rising costs.

Over half (52.2%) expect the quality of school meals to continue getting worse over the coming weeks and months.

Commenting on the survey’s findings, Brad Pearce, chair of LACA, said: ‘Despite the best efforts of our members and dedicated frontline staff, the school meals industry is on its knees. The challenges facing our industry are set to get worse over the coming weeks and months. Without an increase in school meal funding the most vulnerable children in our society will go without, possibly, their only hot, healthy, and nutritious meal of the day.’

Mr Pearce also said that the Government should raise the free school meals (FSM) entitlement threshold.

‘We are also urging the Government to raise the FSM entitlement threshold to all children whose parents are on Universal Credit, to ensure that no child misses out on a school lunch. A hungry child cannot learn, but for too many children this could soon become their reality,’ he said.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Communications and Engagement Officer

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£44,331 - £47,532
We’re looking for two enthusiastic and dedicated communications professionals to join our team and work on communications for transport. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Families Information Officer

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£38,934 - £40,755
The Greenwich Families information Service is requiring cover for maternity leave within the team. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Finance Assistant

Royal Borough of Greenwich
£31,524 - £32,931
Roles have generic job descriptions across the department’s full range of accounting services. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Housing Assurance Service Manager

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£55,675 - £56,649
We’re building a brand-new assurance team in our Homes & Neighbourhoods service Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Trainee Public Health Practitioner

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£24,404 - £24,790
Working within the Kirklees Public Health Improvement team Kirklees, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Linkedin Banner