A primary school has come under fire after it banned meat from the menu.
Children at Barrowford Primary School, near Nelson in Lancashire, are only offered vegetarian dinners and they are asked to avoid bringing meat in pack lunches.
The rule was introduced last year, but parents were only informed by letter earlier this week, reports The Sun.
Headteacher Rachel Tomlinson said the school switched to vegetarian meals to educate children about the environmental impact of eating meat. But the policy has outraged some parents.
Mum Zoe Douglas described it as “a joke” and said she is now looking to move her daughter Amelia to a different school.
She said: "I think they forget that non-meat eaters and vegans have to take a lot of supplements. What supplements they getting instead at that school?
"Nothing, probably saving on food costs."
Zoe said she only realised the school had banned meat when her daughter came home talking about the “disgusting sausages” which were being served for lunch.
Another parent, who asked to remain anonymous, said children should not be forced to give up meat.
"Vegetarian is a choice for when they are older," she said.
“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.”
However, some parents have welcomed the switch to meat-free lunches.
Mum Lauren Stirzaker Jackson, whose daughter attends Barrowford Primary, said: "The 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."
The school, which has been rated good by Ofsted, has not received any complaints from parents since it brought in the rule a year ago, according to the headteacher.
She added: “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."
