As food price inflation has continued to rise for 13 consecutive months, suppliers have been failing to provide the same levels of food to schools – and some deliveries are just not turning up.
The cost of buying in food for school meals has also led to the education department calculating that an extra £300,000 is required in funding for 2022/23.
A school meals annual performance report was tabled at the council’s recent education committee.
It states: “This issue is exasperated due to the new nutritional legislation narrowing the market of products that are available. Shortfalls or non-delivery of food products has an impact on the delivery of nursery, primary and secondary school meals service as foodstuffs being procured must meet the Nutritional Requirements for Food and Drink in Schools (Scotland) Act.
“A further increase of food costs in school meals can be attributed to the additional fruit and vegetables that must be provided as part of the new legislation as well as premium prices of nutritionally compliant foods associated with the new legislation.
“The service estimated in May 2022 an average cost increase of up to 20 per cent of all food commodities associated with school meals and estimated a cost of approximately £300,000 additional funding regarding the increase in food cost for year 2022/23.
“With ongoing inflation continuing to rise, the service is frequently monitoring food costs and liaising with colleagues in finance regarding further financial pressures that are likely to arise.”
The education report also detailed how the uptake of free school dinners at high schools has decreased from 71 percent to 59 per cent.
But Alan Mawson said that the poor uptake of free school dinners is an issue across Scotland.
