In Bagnolet, children no longer eat their fill in the canteen according to parents of students

Families criticize the quality of the meals and the “very small quantities” served in the school canteens of Bagnolet (Seine-Saint-Denis). The Sodexo company is singled out, but the town hall evokes “a running-in period”.

The text brings together just over 280 signatures on Tuesday. In an online petition published a week ago, parents of students at the Jean Jaurès elementary school express strong criticism of the canteen of their establishment. According to the families,the children of Bagnolet frequently no longer have enough to eat at lunchtime“, “since the town hall of Bagnolet called on Sodexo“.

“Many children report being still hungry when they leave the canteen. Parents actually notice that their children are hungry in the evening“, says the petition, which refers to meals with “very small quantities“.

“It is absolutely intolerable that in 2022 the nutrition of our children is not a priority, and that they go to class all afternoon without having eaten enough at lunchtime. Their health and well-being are at stake, especially when some of the students cannot benefit from 3 balanced meals a day. This is detrimental to academic success“, point out the parents.

Séverine André, whose son is educated in CM2 at the Jean Jaurès school, is a member of the collective of parents of students at the origin of the petition. “Parents were surprised at first to see their children complaining that they were really hungry when they left school, because the portions were too small. Then while discussing, we realized that it was not limited to a few cases. CM2 students then wrote a petition, and parents took over“, she says.

According to Séverine André, many schools are concerned beyond the establishment: “We made more noise than other schools supplied by the central kitchen of Bagnolet, but it is not limited to one establishment. There have been paper petitions elsewhere with the same sentiment.“

The petition also deplores a drop in quality with menus “less varied and balanced“, failure to respect a “commitment of one meal per week 100 for 100 organic“, and the distribution of disposable cutlery. The petition thus calls for the termination of the contract with Sodexo and “the recruitment of a chef with decent working conditions“.

Contacted, the City of Bagnolet confirms that Mayor Tony Di Martino (PS) has been able to observe “malfunctions“during surprise visits, and that”alert points are raised“. The town hall evokes “a break-in period” et “staffing issues“in the context of the health crisis.

The City explains that it hasexchanged with the provider“, the new contract dating from December 1st. A new manager of the central canteen has also just been appointed. The municipality emphasizes, however, that “the mayor was extremely shocked to read comments in the press that evoke inedible dishes, and children who do not have enough to eat“. “Some reported statements go beyond reality“, deplores the City.

“We did not try to instrumentalize the children“, reacts Séverine André. Contacted, the company Sodexo has not responded to our requests at this stage.

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