FUW Officials have kept up the pressure on sourcing local food for school meals during a recent meeting with Ieuan Williams, the newly appointed portfolio holder for Education and Welsh Language in Anglesey County Council.
The meeting followed a series of previous meetings with Anglesey County Council and Chartwells, the current catering supplier for school meals that has committed to source 30 percent of the total produce locally from within a 60 mile radius.
FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heledd Teleri Williams said:
“We have previously welcomed Chartwells’ commitment to source at least 30 percent of the total produce locally which recognises the important role the farmers of Anglesey and surrounding areas can play in providing food produced to world-leading animal health and welfare standards and reaching net zero by keeping food miles down.
Whilst we have previously questioned how the Welsh Government’s ambition to provide free school meals and other external influences will impact on Chartwells’ ability to maintain its commitment, this meeting provided us with the opportunity to repeat such concerns with Mr Williams and question the details of the contract.”
Union Officials asked how much of the locally-sourced food is red meat and dairy products; what proportion of school meals include meat; and how will current UK food inflation rates of around 7 percent have an impact on the contract?
“Mr Williams made a welcome commitment to go back and get the answers to our questions following the meeting."
However, given that Anglesey County Council is already subsidising a proportion of the cost of school meals, it was clear that the Welsh Government will need to reflect the roll out of free school meals in future budgets.
FUW Senior Policy and Communications Officer Gareth Parry added:
“We accept that there is a role for the FUW to play here in ensuring that the Welsh Government properly funds Local Authorities to be able to source good quality Welsh produce alongside the roll out of free school meals, but County Councils must also emphasise to the Government the importance and benefits associated with sourcing local food.
We would like to thank Mr Williams for having given his time to meet with the FUW and discuss this matter. We look forward to receiving his response to the questions we have raised in due course so that we can make sure that the children of Anglesey and Wales receive the best quality of food in future.”