Here it is:
' The Great British banger is off the menu for Islington children as pork has been banned in all the borough's primary schools.
Islington Council has been criticised by the pork industry for refusing to dish up chops, sausages and bacon to youngsters, although the meat is served in secondary schools.Despite pork being a cheap meat, the council claims it is too expensive to serve because the authority has to monitor what every child eats in case those whose cultural or religious beliefs forbid pork, eat it by accident....
Dr Zoe Davies, chief executive of the National Pig Association, said: "This is something we are particularity concerned about.
"It's something we have heard of but we wouldn't say it's common. It tends to happen in areas where there are large numbers of children from, for example, a Muslim background who wouldn't eat pork.""But we would like there to be a choice. Pork is a very affordable and nutritious meat.Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington council's executive member for children and families, said: "By not having pork on the menus in our schools, we can keep down costs and reduce food waste, maximising the schools meal budget in tough financial circumstances. We meet regularly with our catering contractor and stakeholders, and feedback is that schools are very happy with the food offered by the service."A council spokesman added: "Young children, some as young as 4-yrs-old, of different religious and ethnic backgrounds may not know which foods contain pork, or may not realise the importance of avoiding it due to their culture or beliefs."Monitoring each child, every day ensuring they are avoiding pork, is an unnecessary cost at a time of tight budgets."'
So they won't serve pork in case a Muslim (or they would add, Jewish) child eats it. But they still serve beef. Do they not care about Hindu and Sikh children?
I like pork and bacon because I know that it won't have been Halal of kosher killed.
ReplyDeleteThe children, "may not realise the importance of avoiding it due to their culture or beliefs"
ReplyDeleteTwo points:
1. There is no importance of avoiding it (unless the child is allergic to pork, which is unheard of)
2. It's the PARENTS' "culture" or beliefs - young children do not give a fig about their parents' beliefs and have to be coerced into attending religious ceremonies. Religion should be explained to them only when the children are old enough to reason for themselves, not inflicted on the very young.