David Seymour Responds to Mouldy Meals Report at Christchurch School

Concerns about mouldy meals at Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch have prompted a strong response from New Zealand’s School Lunches Minister, David Seymour. Following the release of an investigation by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS), Seymour stated that the school’s principal, Peggy Burrows, is now “eating humble pie” regarding her previous assertions about the incident.

The investigation confirmed that the mouldy lunches discovered on December 1, 2023, had likely been at the school for several days before their identification. According to the NZFS report, the meals were misplaced and left unrefrigerated over the weekend. Burrows had initially disputed claims of school responsibility but is now conducting her own internal investigation, which she indicated would be completed by the end of the week.

Seymour dismissed the food safety concerns raised by critics. He stated, “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 emphasized that the findings of the NZFS report were clear and spoke for themselves.

Details of the Investigation

The issue came to light when a staff member found approximately 20 mouldy meals at the school. On that day, Haeata Community Campus received 343 standard meals and 28 special dietary meals. The meals are delivered in insulated Cambro containers, each capable of holding up to 44 meals. The menu on that day included savoury minced beef and potatoes, identical to the meal served the previous Thursday.

NZFS noted that no meals were delivered on Friday, November 28, due to a teacher-only day. Instead, that delivery van supplied meals to other schools. The investigation concluded that it was unlikely that leftover meals from the previous week were included in Monday’s delivery.

Investigators found that the school kept additional Cambro containers but did not adequately monitor their contents. After distribution, some containers were returned to the cafeteria, where students had access to meals later. This led to the conclusion that the mouldy meals were inadvertently left in the cafeteria containers and later offered to students.

CCTV footage revealed that eight Cambro containers were delivered to the school on November 27, while nine were returned later that day. All 20 mouldy meals were located in a single container. The NZFS stated that it was improbable the distributor was at fault, as no similar complaints had surfaced from other schools that received the same meals.

Reassurances and Recommendations

The investigation by NZFS identified no ongoing food safety risks connected to the School Lunch Collective. Vincent Arbuckle, deputy director-general of NZFS, noted that various potential scenarios were considered, including the mishandling of containers and the reintroduction of leftover meals. Following the investigation, the agency provided recommendations aimed at improving traceability, reporting, and handling processes across schools and suppliers.

Parents and students have been assured that the situation has been thoroughly addressed and that there is no continued risk to food safety. The incident has highlighted the importance of vigilance in food handling practices within schools to prevent similar occurrences in the future.