A parent has hit out at her child's school after drastic changes to its lunch menu left children with “constant potatoes”.
Richmond Primary School, in Hinckley, Leicestershire, warned parents about temporary changes that were to be made to the lunchtime menu due to the impact of Covid cases amongst staff.
But one parent complained that the changes have left the menu serving the kids potatoes every single day - whereas the menu previously was “varied” and “fairly interesting”, LeicestershireLive reports .
In a letter to parents, the catering manager wrote: "During the autumn term we were suffering with very high levels of staff sickness but we managed to maintain good service until Christmas.
“With the ongoing pandemic and the increase in Omicron cases, this situation worsened after Christmas.
"We have robust contingency plans in place to deal with staff shortages and these plans involve a simplified menu which can be delivered with fewer staff.
"While we are experiencing high levels of staff absence, we will be introducing a simplified menu. This will start from Monday 17 January 2022.
"A simplified menu will ensure we can continue to support the seamless delivery of good quality, hot, healthy school meals at your school every day."
However one parent was less understanding to the constraints the school struggled with because of Covid.
They said: "It's gone from being a varied, fairly interesting menu to being pretty much constant potatoes.
"On one day, one of the menu options is a jacket potato with chicken mayonnaise that you can have with a side of jacket potato.
"On other days, you can order a jacket potato with jacket wedges, creamy mashed potatoes, chips, minted potatoes and parsley potatoes.”
On week one of the new menu, on three of the five days there are two different types of potatoes as the only option.
They added: "I understand that everyone is dealing with staff shortages, but why does that mean that our kids now have to exist on a diet of potatoes cooked in different ways?
"It's especially tough for vegetarian or vegan kids. I'm assuming most will resort to a packed lunch, unless they really love potatoes."
The menu shows two options for a main meal - either the meal of the day or a jacket potato option.
While some options are varied, such as organic meatballs in a homemade tomato sauce with rice, there are some days that end up serving potatoes with both meal options.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council says that the decision was not taken lightly, but was developed with dieticians to ensure healthy meals continue to be served despite absences.
They also confirm that the changes are only temporary, with the new menu set to be reviewed regularly.
The spokesperson said: “The decision to reduce the school food menu at this time is a decision that has not been taken lightly but it has been carefully developed with dietitians to ensure healthy, nutritious hot meals continue to be served daily.
“We are doing everything we can to support schools as we experience shortages in staff, due to rise in omicron cases, alongside national felt difficulties recruiting to the hospitality sector.
“We would like to stress that this a temporary measure to ensure business continuity, and the intention of the service is regularly review the situation to reinstate the full choice menu as soon as is possible.
“The revised menu continues to provide choice and value for money while meeting government food standards, and it has been carefully pulled together taking into account both cultural and dietary requirements.
“School food service staff are working extremely hard in very challenging circumstances and the measures that are being put in place will support the wellbeing of staff and the continued delivery of a high standard service.”
