School Lunch News That You Could Use
We’re always keeping up with news stories and articles surrounding school lunches. We’ll do the heavy reading and round up our favorite stories for you to get quick information about school lunch news. Here are this week’s stories that we find especially interesting and think you will too.
School lunch shortages in the near future
Many manufacturers are facing labor and product shortages due to the pandemic disrupting food supply chains. What this means for schools that rely on manufacturers for their breakfast and lunch programs is that there is going to be a shortage of many school lunch staples in schools. Some of the meals include beef patties, juices, and chicken tenders. Because of these shortages, many schools are preparing to offer less on their menus.
Hundreds of parents petition for outdoor school lunch
Parents in the DC area are beginning to ask schools what their protocol is for lunchtime with kids not wearing masks as they enjoy their meals. In Montgomery County, “ hundreds of parents have signed a petition to have students eat lunch outside, in order to avoid large, unmasked gatherings in cafeterias, as concerns surrounding the Delta variant continue to grow”. The county advises parents that schools are in charge of where they offer school lunch and breakfast.
Colorado students express concern about school lunch offerings
In the Pueblo District in Colorado, many students are turning away from school lunches because of the quality of the food being offered. A parent from the Colorado school district, Danielle Mastin, states, “ There’s room for error in a lot of things, but when it comes to taking care of children I don’t believe there is room for error”. With food shortages due to COVID-19, many schools are experiencing changes to their school lunch menus. However, food providers for schools promise better lunches this fall.
Parent frustration over lack of COVID-19 family safety protocols
As much of the conversations about COVID-19 recently have been about booster shots, many families are frustrated with the “the lack of advice for families, particularly those with children under 12 years old, who are not yet eligible for a Covid vaccine” according to the New York Times. Some easy ways parents can protect their families from the spread of the virus is by avoiding large gatherings and indoor events, paying attention to community transmission, and keeping track of their child’s symptoms if they are feeling sick.
