Mykolaiv residents complain about school meals: food is cold and portions are too small

Parents of schoolchildren in Mykolaiv complain about the quality of free meals. Photo: NikVesti

In Mykolaiv, parents of schoolchildren complain about the quality of free meals in educational institutions. According to them, the portions do not correspond to the stated sizes, the food is often cold, and the dishes are dirty.

This was written by local resident Hanna Shevchenko, who published a photo from the school canteen, according to NikVesti.

According to the woman, her child received only a few pieces of boiled potatoes with butter for lunch instead of the promised 150 grams.

«According to the Minister of Education, there are funds for food. But the food on the plate of an ordinary student of an ordinary lyceum in Mykolaiv is much less than promised. Is there the 150 grams of potatoes claimed? The naked eye can see that there are not. Loud promises about a modern menu with beautiful names of dishes are shattered by reality. The unpleasant conclusions are self-evident,» wrote Hanna Shevchenko.

Menu for students at a school in Mykolaiv. Photo: Hanna Shevchenko

Food of one of the students. Photo: Hanna Shevchenko

In the comments to her post, other parents also shared their dissatisfaction. They note that the dishes are tasteless, the portions are small, and the organisation of the process leaves much to be desired.

«How I understand this! I have seen how children are fed myself. And it's a shame — sometimes it's impossible to eat, as if they were cooking for pigs instead of children. The portions are tiny, and we pay a lot of money. And yet it starts with us. What can we demand from the authorities when there is such a mess on the ground? They profit from those who are the smallest and most silent. Because a child will not complain,» said Oksana Zhyvak.

The author of the post replied to her, reminding her that parents do not pay for meals now, because they are funded by the state. And the problem is not only the size of the portions, but also the fact that the meals are often tasteless and cold.

«The meals are free, but in fact we all pay for them from our taxes. And yes, the portions are obviously very small. This food is called hot only on the slides of officials, but in reality it is cold. The taste is also very controversial, especially in schools, where meals are brought ready-made,» Hanna Shevchenko wrote in response.

Comments under Hanna Shevchenko's post on school meals. Screenshot from Facebook

In addition, parents complain about unsanitary conditions in the canteens. In the comments to the publication of the Mykolaiv City Council about the start of free meals, they note that the dishes are sometimes dirty, and the workers neglect the rules of hygiene.

«It would also good to teach the canteen staff how to wash the dishes — glasses, spoons, plates — properly. There are food residues on the plates, and the glasses are all stained. Employees pick up bread without gloves, pick up cutlets with a fork and support them with their hands at the same time. High school children see all this and refuse to eat. The food is also cold,» complained Panchul.

Comments under the post by Mykolaiv City Council on student nutrition. Screenshot from Facebook

Comments under a post by Mykolaiv City Council on school meals. Screenshot from Facebook

The editorial board of NikVesti asked Anatolii Petrov, the deputy mayor in charge of social and humanitarian issues, for a comment. He refused to comment on the situation, but said that a meeting with the Department of Education would be held in the near future.

This year, 21,000 pupils from grades 5 to 11 will be provided with free meals in Mykolaiv schools.

As a reminder, it was planned to spend 146.2 million hryvnias on meals for children in Mykolaiv schools by the end of this year. Earlier it was reported that school meals would rise in price from 1 September.