Inspection of school canteens «Everything is ok, but let’s change the menus» – Chieti

LAUNCH. A surprise raid on the kitchens of the Marcianese primary school and in other school refectories was carried out in recent days by the education councillor, Angelo Palmieriaccompanied by a sector manager following some reports from parents of children who use the canteen service. The reports were alarming, such as poor hygiene and foods that appeared to be spoiled, for example cooked ham that seemed “shiny” to the touch, as if it had expired. But nothing emerged from the department’s inspection.
«No one knew about my visit», explains Palmieri, «and I really showed up as a surprise. I found everything perfectly in order, the foods canned correctly, all the expiry dates respected, the preparations and kitchens in order and the cooks with clothes and accessories suitable to guarantee compliance with hygiene and health standards such as gloves and headgear. Evidently”, the councilor further specifies, “it was a matter of some misunderstanding on the part of the children, for example a teacher told me that the vegetable filaments had been mistaken by someone for hair, but this was not the case at all. The fact remains that we monitor and will continue to monitor the quality of the food served in our schools.”
Although the alarm has been resolved, the “problem” of the planned menu remains, at least for some schools, especially nursery schools. The monthly sheet shows meals such as risotto with broccoli pesto, vegetable purees and minestrone which are served with penne rigate; mezze penne with escarole pesto and cereals such as barley and spelled which are often not even touched by children aged 3 to 5. And a reason of great concern for the teachers concerns the distribution of the fateful mozzarella cherries. «We don’t have time to cut them», explains a teacher, «and we try to do it as quickly as possible because due to their shape and consistency these morsels are among the first causes of suffocation. Furthermore, without prejudice to a varied diet, we ask that more simple foods suitable for children be provided, such as tomato pasta which, in fact, is never sent back.” «We strictly comply with the ASL directives», he explains Nico Albericoowner of Labor which will have the contract extended until March pending the regional tender, «and we don’t even deviate from the weight of the salt or the size of the pasta. Raw materials are increasingly expensive and it is also harmful to us if we have to throw away a large quantity of food that is not eaten.” «I will try to be the spokesperson with the local health authority for a change of menu in response to the needs and tastes of children while remaining faithful to the seasonality of the products», promises councilor Palmieri, «wasting food and money must be avoided».
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