A Christchurch school has warned parents of a “significant health and safety breach” after the school lunches it was provided were “mouldy and liquefied”.
Haeata Community Campus principal Peggy Burrows said all lunches had been recalled but some had already been eaten by students.
She told 1News staff members usually ate with the kids and that when a staff member opened one of the lunches up, they found it mouldy and liquefied.
She warned parents of students at the school to watch for food poisoning symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea.
“More severe symptoms can include bloody diarrhoea, a fever over 38 degrees and dehydration, and frequent vomiting, which warrant medical attention.”
A complaint would be made to the provider School Lunches Collective immediately and a meeting set up, she added.
In a statement to 1News, the School Lunch Collective said it was aware of food quality issue at the school.
“No students have reported as sick and there are no other schools across the region or country that have reported food quality issues.”
The collective was working with the school and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) to better understand what had happened.
“We take pride in our food quality and know this is something that cannot be compromised. Our kitchens are verified and audited regularly by an independent MPI-verified provider, and we follow the Food Act, Food Control Plans and related regulations. These measures have been in place since the beginning of the programme,” the spokesperson added.
