Sir, Many years ago, I jumped up and down in frustration at meetings in London with the newly formed National Curriculum Council, and at my local county council education liaison committee, over food in schools. I had seen our school kitchens become “centralised” and dinners sent out by taxi to rural schools while good school cooks were made redundant.
Instead of good local supplies we were forced to buy cheap, revolting meat substitutes, frozen chips and canned vegetables to reduce costs per plate. At the same time, cookery became “food technology”. I pleaded that all teenagers needed to learn how to cook cheap but nutritious family meals, to no avail. Vending machines selling canned drinks and sweets were to be installed in schools to bring in extra money. I watched children’s behaviour deteriorate, obesity rates skyrocket, washed my hands of the whole thing and retired.
Finally, we are seeing common sense return. But we have a generation of young adults who have come to rely on ready meals and wonder why they can’t control their offspring.
JAN GOFFEY
landscape@suziallen.co.uk
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Sir, I recently attended an appointment at Southampton General Hospital. My instructions were: “Enter the main entrance of the hospital under the NHS sign and turn right at Burger King.”
I suggest that the NHS practises what it preaches. No such outlet should be promoted within a hospital.
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JACQUIE BROADWAY
Midhurst, W Sussex