19th Mar 2009 - 00:00
Abstract
Junk food found in pupil's lunchboxes is being confiscated at a north London primary school, a move parents are describing as 'mealtime Gestapo'.
Pupils at Danesgrove Primary School in Barnet that turn up with sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks or crisps are having them taken away and returned at the end of the day if parents ask for them. One parent told the Daily Mail newspaper: "When I found out what they were doing I thought 'This is a primary school, not Guantanamo Bay'. I can't believe that teachers go through their lunchboxes and because there might be something like a small chocolate bar. My daughter has a sandwich and an apple as well but now she has to hide a small box of Smarties I give her. It's just not right." The school has said that parents were sent a letter informing them that lunchboxes would be checked and headmistress Deborah Metcalf added: "The stance is trying to work with parents to provide a healthy meal for their children." In January, research from Mintel showed that 64% of parents believe that the content of a child's packed lunch should be left up to them.
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