David Seymour Responds to Mouldy Meals Controversy in Christchurch

Following the release of a New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) investigation report, David Seymour, the Minister for School Lunches, stated that the principal of Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch is now “eating humble pie” regarding concerns over mouldy meals served at the school. The report confirmed that mouldy lunches discovered last week had likely been at the school for several days prior to their identification.

Investigation Findings and Principal’s Response

The NZFS investigation, released on December 1, 2023, indicated that the meals had been improperly stored and left unrefrigerated over the weekend. Principal Peggy Burrows, who had previously disputed claims of the school’s responsibility, is currently conducting an internal inquiry, expected to conclude by the end of the week.

In response to the findings, Seymour dismissed the food safety concerns raised by critics. “There is no question here about food safety. People who have tried to say that have had to eat a different meal, which is humble pie,” he remarked, emphasizing that the investigation’s findings were clear and conclusive.

The issue came to light when a staff member discovered approximately 20 mouldy meals on the morning of December 1. On that day, Haeata Community Campus received a total of 343 standard meals and 28 special dietary meals. The meals, delivered in insulated Cambro containers, were reportedly the same as those served on the previous Thursday.

Delivery Logistics and Food Safety Measures

NZFS noted that no meals were delivered on November 28, as the school observed a teacher-only day. Instead, the delivery van provided meals to other schools. The investigation concluded that it is unlikely the meals delivered on December 1 could have included leftovers from the previous week. Investigators found that the school had additional Cambro containers on-site but lacked adequate monitoring of their contents and numbers.

After daily distribution, some containers were returned to the cafeteria, where students could access meals later. The NZFS concluded that the mouldy meals were likely left inadvertently in cafeteria containers and made available to students. CCTV footage revealed that on November 27, eight Cambro containers were delivered while nine were returned later that day. All mouldy meals were found in a single cafeteria container.

Notably, the investigation indicated that the distributor was unlikely to be at fault, as no similar complaints had been reported from other schools receiving the same meals. The limited chiller capacity at the Christchurch distribution facility was also noted, as it only stored meals for the next day’s service.

Vincent Arbuckle, deputy director-general of NZFS, stated that the investigation found no ongoing food safety risks linked to the School Lunch Collective. Multiple scenarios were assessed, including the potential misplacement of containers and the reintroduction of leftover meals.

In the wake of these findings, NZFS has recommended improvements to enhance traceability, reporting, and handling processes across schools and suppliers. Parents and students have been reassured that the issue has been thoroughly addressed and that there is no continuing risk to food safety.