School’s new “meat-free” policy on its pupils' lunch faces furious backlash from parents — “I’m fuming!”
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A British primary school has stirred a commotion among parents after it implemented its "meat-free policy" for its pupils' lunch.
Parents claimed that school administrators at Barrowford Primary School urged kids to not bring meat in their packed lunches.
It was reported that the school started imposing the new rule last year.
Barrowford Primary School imposed a policy on offering meat-free meals to children. Credit: news.com.au.
However, it was only last week that the parents were informed of the changes.
While the school claimed that it has not received any complaints about its meat-free meals, parents took to Facebook to air their frustrations and complaints about the matter.
One of the mums who are clamouring on social media is Zoe Douglas who said that she is currently looking to transfer her kids to a different school.
She wrote: “It is a joke. I‘m looking to move mine as I’ve had enough of that school.”
“I think they forget that non-meat eaters and vegans have to take a lot of supplements. What supplements are they getting instead at that school?"
“Nothing, probably saving on food costs.”
The mum also said that her daughter came home from school one day and told her that the sausages she served were "disgusting", not knowing that the school had imposed the meat-free rule "ages ago".
Zoe said: “I only found out this week in an email."
“Amelia ordered sausage and mash and when she bit into her sausage she said ‘eww’."
“Teachers said, ‘oh, it’s a vegetarian sausage’ but they hadn’t told her before she ordered."
“She ended up just having mash for her dinner. I‘m fuming. She’s been on packed lunches since.”
Another parent wrote: “I take it these children will never have a Christmas lunch ever again in school, something that‘s happened for decades and all of them look forward to."
“Why not accommodate the veggies, vegans, whatever and add to the menu instead of making our kids adapt?"
“And to request parents pack lunches that are veggie as well, not to mention the local farmers, this is absolutely ludicrous."
“No wonder my kids are starving and raid the fridge before the shoes are off."
“Vegetarian is a choice for when they are older.”
Furious parents aired their sentiments on the new policy, with some saying that they are looking to transfer their kids to a different school. Credit: Google.
Locals were also fuming over the new policy, claiming that the school is not doing its part in teaching the kids about their local economy.
It should be noted that the school is located in the outskirts of a rural area, with farming as its main source of income.
Livestock buyer Alex Nutter said: “We have absolutely no hope of teaching the younger generation about our food production when primary schools are teaching them to be ‘meat free’.
“It‘s very worrying what we’re up against.”
Another resident said: “Wow. It’s pathetic. Ten years ago nobody knew what the word vegan meant, now these grass-eating w****** are pushing their b****** agenda on us all.”
While a number of people are against this school policy, some parents are keen on letting their kids try the vegetarian diet, saying that going meat-free is the future.
“There are so many dietary requirements – vegetarian, vegan, halal," said Lauren Stirzaker Jackson, a mum whose daughter attends the school.
“School are trying to cater for everyone. Whatever they do, someone will moan."
“I am not vegetarian and I think the lunch choices are great."
“If people are upset they have the option to send a packed lunch if they wish, nothing is forced.”
It was stated in the letter sent out to parents that the rationale behind the school's decision to offer its pupils meat-free meals is to "stop climate change".
Headteacher Rachel Tomlinson emphasised that the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to carbon footprint.
The letter read: “If you still want to send packed lunches, could you please consider meat-free options to further support us in doing our bit to reduce carbon emissions as a school community?”
Speaking to The Sun, Mrs Tomlinson commented on the backlash, saying: “We made our school lunches meat-free over a year ago, and while we have not received any complaints from parents, I‘m happy to discuss it with anyone who has any queries."
“Our children learn about the principles of sustainable development as part of the national curriculum, and are really interested in how they can contribute to better looking after our environment."
“We made our school lunches meat-free to demonstrate how each of us making a small change to our daily habits can have a much wider positive impact, and that reducing meat consumption is just one way to do this."
“We have been careful to approach this in a balanced way, and teach that it is fine to eat meat, but that reducing our consumption can help our planet.”
How do you feel about the school’s decisions? Let us know in the comments below.
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healthy ?? What about choice?? The head says - and I quote ‘we teach that it is fine to eat meat BUT reducing our consumption can help our planet’ !! Yet the children DON’T have free choice!! The school needs to get a new ‘balanced’ head teacher!!!!! Should be a democratic decision !!
