Marcus Rashford said scant food packages circulating social media yesterday were ‘not good enough’
Marcus Rashford said scant food packages circulating social media yesterday were ‘not good enough’

Marcus Rashford has had a call from the Prime Minister, who said he is ‘committed to correcting’ the UK’s free school meals scandal.

The Manchester United striker and child poverty campaigner slammed the food packages vulnerable families were receiving as ‘not good enough’, after pictures of scant offerings began circulating social media yesterday.

It was initially suggested that the original image shared online showed what was meant to be £30 worth of food, intended to last 10 days,which the mum who posted it said she could have bought for around £5 from Asda.

Following an investigation, catering firm Chartwells UK said it shows five days of school lunches at a value of £10.50, which still falls short of what they should have been providing.

Rashford, who successfully lobbied the Government to continue providing free school meals during the summer and winter holidays, tweeted this morning that he’d had a ‘good conversation with the Prime Minister’.

The footballer added: ‘He has assured me that he is committed to correcting the issue with the food hampers and that a full review of the supply chain is taking place.

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This Chartwells box, which is supposed to be for ten days, and instead of a ?30 voucher - The company behind the lunches are Chartwells, which is the education catering specialist / re: Marcus Rashford slams inadequate free school meals parcel given to families to last them 10 days Rashford shared post by one mother - @RoadsideMum - who posted a picture of a hamper containing bread, cheese, two carrots and a tin of baked beans
A food parcel which one mum said she could buy for around £5 at Asda (Picture: @RoadsideMum)

‘He agrees that images of hampers being shared on Twitter are unacceptable.’

The Prime Minister later tweeted: ‘I totally agree with you @MarcusRashford, these food parcels do not meet the standards we set out and we have made it clear to the company involved that this is disgraceful.

‘The company concerned has rightly apologised and agreed to reimburse those affected.’

Yesterday Rashford shared an image of four apples, a tin of beans, a few cartons of juice and some snacks, which he said was intended to feed a family for three days.

He said he had spoken with Chartwells, who were due to hold talks with the Department for Education, and stressed that they were not the only free school meals provider contracted by the Government.

Rashford added: ‘One thing that is clear is that there was very little communication with the suppliers that a national lockdown was coming.

‘We MUST do better. Children shouldn’t be going hungry on the basis that we aren’t communicating or being transparent with plans. That is unacceptable. ‘Something is going wrong and we need to fix it, quickly.’

Mum slams free school meal food parcel Picture: Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford shared a picture of this ‘unacceptable’ food delivery (Marcus Rashford)

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said the Government will ‘name and shame’ companies providing poor quality food parcels.

He told a committee of MPs he was ‘absolutely disgusted’ by images of the inadequate offerings, adding: ‘As a dad myself, I thought “how could a family in receipt of that really be expected to deliver five nutritious meals as is required?” It’s just not acceptable.’

Food parcels were brought in to replace £30 vouchers given to parents to spend in supermarkets as schools close for remote learning.

Defending the move, Children’s Minister Vicky Ford said the deliveries helps schools keep in touch with families, which is especially important given that some children have been more at risk at home during the pandemic.

However these pupils could be classed as vulnerable and may be able to come into school depending on their circumstances.

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In yet another Government U-turn, the Education Secretary told the Commons today that the £15 voucher scheme will return this week.

Last night a Chartwells UK spokesperson said: ‘We have had time to investigate the picture circulated on Twitter.

‘For clarity this shows five days of free school lunches (not ten days) and the charge for food, packing and distribution was actually £10.50 and not £30 as suggested.

‘However, in our efforts to provide thousands of food parcels a week at extremely short notice we are very sorry the quantity has fallen short in this instance.

‘Our ten-day hampers typically include a wide variety of nutritious food items to support the provision of lunches for children.

‘We are further enhancing our food parcels following the Department for Education’s additional allowance of £3.50 per week per child in line with nutritional guidelines, in addition we welcome the DofE procurement notice for schools issued today.

‘We would like to thank Marcus Rashford and the Permanent Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, Vicky Ford, for their collaboration as we navigate these difficult times.’

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