The catering firm at the centre of the free school meals scandal has been slammed by two mothers who claim they were sent boxes containing mould-covered vegetables and rotten fruit.
Chartwells came under attack last month after campaigning footballer Marcus Rashford shared a picture of a paltry food parcel sent to parents of children on free school meals to cover at least five days of lunches during lockdown.
And now, two mothers are claiming the scandal – which Boris Johnson called an 'insult to families' – is far from over.
Kerry Elson from Yatton, Somerset, shared a picture of the mould-coated tomatoes, rotten pears and dried-out carrots provided by the firm.
Meal scheme will switch for half-term
The free meal system for school pupils will change over the February half term – as the government tries to balance its books by using a different department’s funding for the food.
In a switchover that has the potential to spark some administration issues, meals for those that need it will continue, but paid for from a different area.
Currently the Department for Education are in charge of providing cash for school meals during the coronavirus outbreak in term-times.
But when half term arrives something called the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, which comes from the DWP, will supply the money. It has £170m of funds.
The under-fire schools food provider has apologised and vowed to raise standards after parents railed against the paltry lunches it was sending their children.