Children face a deterioration in school meals due to shortages and increasing prices, a survey suggests. Ninety-one per cent of the 99 school meal providers polled by Laca The School Food People across England and Wales said they were experiencing food shortages, with over 60 per cent saying this has not improved since May.
Bread, fish, cheese, pasta and potatoes are the items most affected. The survey also found that prices had risen by a further 30 per cent since May. This is in addition to the 20 per cent price increases Laca members reported in May, compared with April 2020.
According to the survey, some caterers experienced 50 per cent price increases since May. The survey also found that 28 per cent were now using more processed foods to cope with rising costs, while almost 35 per cent were considering switching from British meat to meat from abroad.
