Minister David Seymour Critiques School for Mouldy Meals Incident

In a recent statement, New Zealand’s School Lunches Minister David Seymour criticized the principal of Haeata Community Campus in Christchurch, Peggy Burrows, for her handling of concerns regarding mouldy meals served at the school. This reaction follows the release of a report by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) that confirmed the mouldy lunches had likely been present on school premises for several days prior to their discovery.

The NZFS report, released on December 1, 2023, indicated that approximately 20 mouldy meals were found by a staff member after the school received a delivery of 343 standard meals and 28 special dietary meals. The investigation revealed that the meals were likely misplaced and left unrefrigerated over the weekend.

Investigation Findings and Responses

Initially, Burrows disputed claims that the school bore responsibility for the mouldy meals. However, the NZFS concluded that the meals had likely been left in cafeteria containers, which were not properly monitored. This lack of oversight meant that leftover meals from the previous week were inadvertently made available to students.

According to the report, on November 27, 2023, eight Cambro containers, each capable of holding up to 44 meals, were delivered to Haeata Community Campus. The following day, a teacher-only day meant no meals were delivered. Instead, other schools received meals such as butter chicken and rice, making it unlikely that leftover meals from the previous week were included in Monday’s delivery.

In response to the investigation’s findings, Seymour 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 from NZFS speak for themselves, suggesting that critics should reconsider their positions on food safety.

Ongoing Investigations and Recommendations

Haeata Community Campus is conducting its own internal investigation, which Burrows stated is expected to conclude by the end of the week. NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle confirmed that the agency found no ongoing food safety risk linked to the School Lunch Collective. He noted that potential scenarios examined included misplaced containers and the reintroduction of leftover meals.

Following the investigation, the NZFS has issued recommendations aimed at enhancing traceability, reporting, and handling processes across schools and their suppliers. Parents and students have been assured that the situation has been thoroughly addressed and that there is no ongoing risk to food safety.

The incident underscores the importance of rigorous food safety practices in schools, particularly when it comes to managing meal deliveries and storage. As investigations continue, both the school and the NZFS aim to implement measures that prevent similar issues in the future.