In a recent post on social media, Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith attempted to explain the Free School Meal Parcels after parents receiving them came together online to share their shockingly small parcels
The idea was that the parcels were for 10 days worth of school lunches worth £30. However, one mother valued her box at £5.22 if bought from Asda. The meals were supposedly supposed to be nutritious and filling to help children focus whilst learning from home.
Mr Clark-Smith wrote that the parcels photographed were supposed be for 5 days rather than 10, and only worth £10.50 (see below for his full post). He admitted that the parcels could be a bit better. He also shared an image of what parent should expect to find in their parcel.

However, the public are sceptical as to whether is just a tactic to cover up the issue.
One outraged mother wrote: “Funny ’cause I got a text from the school to say its fortnightly I believe that adds up to ten days:
“Dear Parent/Carer
To support our pupils who usually receive free school meals whilst at school, we will be providing fortnightly food hampers which can be collected from school. Please complete the form by clicking on the following link by 2pm today to indicate whether you wish to receive your hamper or not and when you can pick it up. https://bit.ly/38lImky
“That’s what received then another to say it’s ready to be picked up what I got was shocking and random , I got two rotting apples and 4 rotting carrots 4 in the bag”
Despite Mr Clarke-Smith’s explanation that the food was worth £10.50 for 5 days, the mother who started all this shared her valuation of the food at £5.22 from a regular supermarket. Meaning that the company was still profiting £4.50, even if it was to last half the expected time.
One person made the point that there was no consideration or information for children with allergies. “How do you explain items being decanted and delivered with absolutely no allergen or nutritional information on them? This is incredibly dangerous and shows a complete disregard for the people you claim to be trying to help and lack of understanding of how modern families manage their food.
Brendan Clarke-Smith’s Facebook Post:
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FREE SCHOOL MEAL PARCELS EXPLAINED












