Mum Outraged By 'Pathetic' Chicken Panini From School Caterers

One mum was left fuming when she learned what her son had been served by school caterers after paying for his lunch.

Jackie Fothergill had sent her son Rowan Parkin to school with enough money to buy his lunch in the canteen, but 13-year-old Rowan was left disappointed when he was presented with a 'pathetic' looking panini.

Outraged by what her son had been served, Jackie Forthergill, 34, said: "It's just not acceptable for our children to be eating this kind of food. The portion is absolutely ridiculous and it costs £1.80.

“With the cost and everything is going up, that is not sufficient at all."

Jackie explained that this isn't the first time she has raised concerns about the school's caterer.

After her complaint was made public, Hinde House secondary school in Sheffield reached out to their caterer, Mellors, who issued an apology and offered reimbursement.

However, Jackie is adamant that more needs to be done.

"The supplier said they would reimburse the parents, but I don't want reimbursement. I want this fixed because this is not the first time that this happened.

“We have been complaining to the school for a long time but nothing's been done."

Jackie explained that she and other parents had also been offered a "secret shopping experience" by the school to experience the catering for themselves, but was adamant that this wouldn't solve anything.

She said: "I just feel like since they know I'm coming, they're going to do their best. I mean, this is not the first time...the children have had enough.

"What they need to do now is to up the portion sizes to match the price of the food or lower the food price to match the portion control."

A spokesperson from Hinde House secondary school has since issued a statement, saying: "We have been made aware that there are numerous concerns being circulated regarding the school's catering provision provided by Mellors.

“Please be assured we will be addressing all concerns with the contractors as a matter of urgency and will keep you all updated."

Director of Operations for Mellors, Anne Kavanagh has also issued a letter of apology to the secondary school, which insisted that the "quality standard represented by the photograph taken does not reflect the standards with which [they] operate" and that an "internal investigation" is underway.