A Christchurch school has issued an urgent warning to parents after discovering that the lunches provided to students on Tuesday were “contaminated,” prompting concerns about possible food poisoning.
Haeata Community Campus principal Peggy Burrows alerted families through a message on social media, calling the situation a “significant health and safety breach,” Stuff has reported.
“I am sorry to advise that we have had a significant health and safety breach with the school lunches today, and some of the food provided to us has been contaminated,” Burrows said, as quoted by Stuff.
“We have recalled all lunches but are aware that some akonga may have eaten some of the food,” Stuff has quoted.
She urged parents to immediately check on their children, outlining symptoms of food poisoning such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, fever and headaches. More severe symptoms, including bloody diarrhoea, a fever over 38 degrees, dehydration and frequent vomiting, would require urgent medical attention, she said.
“I am so sorry this has happened, and will be complaining to the provider immediately,” as quoted by Stuff.
Burrows told RNZ that the lunches, mince and potatoes, had already been distributed when a staff member noticed the meal was rancid and had mould on it. Staff inspected additional meals and found they were also spoiled. The provider, Compass Group, collected the affected lunches, as quoted by Stuff.
Burrows described the meals as looking “putrid” and said she did not know how many students had eaten them.
Some children had told staff the meals “tasted ok,” while others reported they tasted “a bit funny.”
“That fills me with horror, because imagine if they have eaten something that has been contaminated,” Burrows said.
The school is awaiting a full investigation from Compass Group.
“We will be having conversations with Compass and checking the school lunches tomorrow before they are given to students,” she told RNZ.
A spokesperson for School Lunch Collective, of which Compass is a part, confirmed they were aware of a “food quality issue” at Haeata Community Campus.
“No students have reported as sick, and there are no other schools across the region or country that have reported food quality issues,” the spokesperson said, Stuff has reported.
“We are working with the school and MPI to better understand what has happened and will provide more details when we can,” as reported by Stuff.
The spokesperson added that the organisation took pride in its standards.
“Our kitchens are verified and audited regularly by an independent MPI-verified provider, and we follow the Food Act, Food Control Plans and related regulations. These measures have been in place since the beginning of the programme,” as reported by Stuff.
Haeata Community Campus and Compass Group have been approached for further comment.