Photos showing food packages being sent to school children in the UK who are video of oral female sexcurrently learning remotely have sparked outrage online, with many calling the parcels "shameful," "cruel," and "disgraceful."
The parcels have been sent to students who would qualify for free school meals when attending school in person. Currently the UK is in its third national lockdown, with the majority of children remote learning (with the exception of children of key workers, who are still going to school).
Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United footballer and child food poverty campaigner, has heavily criticised the quality and quantity of the parcels, which have been provided by a government contractor called Chartwells, a food service company. Many on Twitter have also raised concerns.
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One of the photos, tweeted by @RoadsideMum, shows a parcel that is reportedly meant to include 10 days' worth of food. The image shows a loaf of sliced bread, a tin of baked beans, single cheese slices, three apples, two carrots, one tomato, a packet of pasta, three yoghurt sachets, and two mini packets of malt loaf.
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The food parcels are supposed to contain the equivalent of £30 ($40) worth of food to be spread over the 10 days. Parents recently received a £30 voucher to cover food over the winter break, but during term time, food parcels are being distributed instead.
But as @RoadsideMum pointed out, the parcel in the image contains about £5 ($6) worth of food, mapping out the costs as if bought from supermarket chain Asda. This estimate was backed by Jack Monroe, the author of Tin Can Cookand activist known for campaigning about poverty, who replied agreeing "that’s about a fivers worth of food there."
Mashable added up a similar estimate for the same items from another chain, Sainsburys, for comparison, and the total amount came to just under £11 — and this was using full prices per kilogram of fruits and vegetables, not individual items.
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Further images have been circulating online highlighting the paucity of food provided in the parcels.
Rashford, who spent most of 2020 campaigning against food poverty experienced by disadvantaged children during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, has criticised the food parcels and has been in touch with Chartwells to get to the bottom of the issue.
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Chartwells responded to the image tweeted by @RoadsideMum claiming that the image "does not reflect the specification" of their hampers. Mashable has reached out to Chartwells for comment but has not yet received a response.
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The UK's Department for Education has also responded stating that they are looking into the issue, and added that they have guidelines and standards for food parcels. "Parcels should be nutritious and contain a varied range of food," they added.
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Rashford tweeted a thread of updates on the situation following a conversation with Chartwells. He said there is call between Chartwells and the Department for Education due to take place sometime on Tuesday.
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Rashford also expressed concern about the number of meals being distributed to children, which is currently just one meal per day from Monday to Friday.
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Rashford tweeted that it's clear "there was very little communication with the suppliers that a national lockdown was coming."
"We MUST do better," he added. "Children shouldn’t be going hungry on the basis that we aren’t communicating or being transparent with plans. That is unacceptable."
Rashford finished up by saying he had to sign off as he has a football match, but will provide further updates once the call has taken place between the Department for Education and Chartwells.
UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2021, 5:54 p.m. GMTPrime Minister Boris Johnson's office at 10 Downing Street issued a statement on the images of the food parcels, declaring them "unacceptable."
“We are aware of those images circulating on social media and it is clear that the contents of those food parcels are completely unacceptable," said the prime minister's official spokesperson in a press statement, per the BBC. "Food parcels should contain food that parents can use to make healthy lunches throughout the week."
The Department for Education, the spokesperson added, will revert to a food voucher scheme like the one deployed during the UK's first lockdown.
UPDATE: Jan. 13, 2021, 10:47 a.m. GMT
Chartwells released a statement regarding the school lunch parcels, apologising for the food parcel quantity "falling short in this instance." Chartwells also tweeted a list of the items included in a standard hamper, which number far more than those in the photographs shared. The company notably pointed out "extremely short notice" in their apology.
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An updated statement was released via email, outlining actionable steps. Per a screenshot of the statement posted by Jack Monroe, the email said: "Where our food parcels have not met our usual high standards, we will be refunding the costs."
They added they'll be contacting every school to "understand where any shortages may have occurred and we will apologise to anyone affected" They also noted that from 15 Jan. food hampers will "reflect the additional £3.50 funding allocation communicated by the government."
Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford has spoken to UK PM Boris Johnson, who says a "full review of the supply chain is taking place."
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Topics Social Good