Catering chiefs in Wigan say they have taken the decision not to offer bananas for primary school lunch menus because the price has doubled over recent months.
Alternatives
MetroFresh, which provides food for school dinners in Wigan, says it has substituted fresh fruit alternatives. But a councillor is demanding assurances from education chiefs that the `penny pinching' isn't hitting nutrition.
Bryn Independent Gary Wilkes, who heard about the banana ban from a parent, has called on Wigan's head of children's Services Nick Hudson to investigate.
Coun Wilkes, who has two children at a primary school in Wigan, said: "I was amazed to find it is genuine and that Wigan primary schools have now withdrawn serving fresh bananas due to a high cost of purchasing them.
'Favourite'
"Bananas are a favourite with most children. Not only is it a fun fruit but one that provides a vast amount of vitamins." He said the council had also withdrawn peppers because those available were not good enough quality.
Coun Wilkes said: "Peppers are also packed with vitamins and are just the type of thing we should be encouraging our young people to eat."
'Unacceptable'
But Steve Peddle, of MetroFresh, said that the wholesale price of bananas had more than doubled recently, while peppers are currently of `unacceptable quality' because of a gap in the Dutch and Spanish peak growing seasons.
He said: "Nobody should believe that somehow bananas or peppers are permanently off the menu.
"We can promise you they will be back very soon."
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Yes we have no Bananas,the council has taken them all!
Prices of fresh fruit goes up and...down, that's no reason to stop buying them; it evens out over the season.
Have they tried different sources of supply?
Is the current supplier just ripping them off?
Just because one wholesaler can't offer a better deal doesn't mean others can't; or is it the usual thing where the authorities have stupidly tied themselves into a contract.
Your are right nyb. Often, local authorities are contracted to buy Fairtrade. I don't know if this is the case in Wigan but Fairtrade products are more expensive than others. It's one thing trying to do the decent thing by helping out overseas communities but if those products can be bought cheaper elsewhere then I don't blame anyone for not buying Fairtrade. They should shop around for other suppliers. This is not a good reason to take fruit off the menu. The govement are constantly pressuring parents to feed their children better and schools are included in that.
Erm.....not the end of the world!!!
Peppers are disgusting anyway!
It's enough to send you ape.
Schools have buying power if they run their own canteen. Let the kitchen head go to the wholesale fruit and veg market and buy the stuff in fresh. Plan their owm menu. I bet you average Dinner lady would given the opportunity, do a great job. Same with meat and fish. I onder if left over are thrown away or made into another good meal the next day?
Andanotherthing you are back! where you bin?
Hi, Esso. Been here scratching my head and tutting at busses. It's a strange world we live in. How are you? Can you afford your five a day, or do you just look at the veg and hope like me....?