SCHOOL KITCHENS – So what’s lurking in your child’s school kitchen

The Daily Echo can exclusively reveal the state of Hampshire school kitchens thanks to environmental health reports obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

In all 43 schools are reported for poor and unhygienic conditons. In some cases the inspectors threaten action if steps after previous warnings were ignored.

But yesterday those in charge of Hampshire's schools denied there was anything for parents to be concerned over.

The reports, made during the last year, reveal a wide range of issues raised by environmental health officers.

These include mouse droppings found in three school kitchens, slug trails in one kitchen and a dry food store with a significant mould problem.

Several of the kitchens had out-of-date dry food in their stores while others were refrigerating food which should have been discarded and returning it for sale the following day.

There were also problems with dirty floors, flaking walls, dirty ceilings, dirty fridge door seals, raw and cooked food being stored together and food being stored at too high a temperature.

The majority of schools were given a clean bill of health. But many parents with children at schools found with problems will find the results shocking reading.

Last night Margaret Morrissey of the national PTA said they were "unaceptable".

"All of these findings are absolutely unacceptable and will cause great concern to parents. With the health and safety regulation now in place one wonders how LEAs can allow this to happen.

"It would not be allowed in workplaces it must not be allowed in schools."

One of the most scathing reports was made on Leesland Infant/ Junior School in Gosport on January 11 this year, with the inspector writing "overall standard poor", noting the floor was in a poor state of repair and was difficult to keep clean, the grouting on the wall tiles was dirty and uncleanable and there was food debris on the floor.

The Daily Echo's enquiries discovered mouse droppings found in a dry food store at Bitterne Park Junior School on March 7 this year. Perhaps surprisingly, however, the environmental health officer who carried out the inspection commented in general standards were good'.

Mouse droppings were also found at Thornhill Primary School.

Unlike Bitterne Park Junior School these were found in an equipment store cupboard rather than a food storage area. However a number of other issues were noted in the kitchen including that the walls were in a poor state of repair meaning particles may break off and contaminate foods', the floor was dirty and the chopping boards were too heavily scored to be properly cleaned.

At Park Gate Junior School in March it was noted that the inappropriate storage of fruit could be encouraging mice, for which treatment had recently been given.

Slug trails were found on the carpet at Sholing Technical College on February 26 this year while at Mason Moor Primary School it was noted that the floor and ceiling were dirty and that the roof of the dry goods store was leaking. The environmental health officer commented mould growth on this scale rarely occurs unless rainwater ingress has occurred'.

Out of date food was found on the kitchen shelves at Woolston Infant School, Beechwood Junior School, Embley Park School, St Monica Junior School, Ludlow Infant School, Hightown Primary School and Glenfield Infant School.

At both Fairisle Junior School and Millbrook Community School food which should have been discarded was put back on sale.

In the report on Nursling Primary School the inspector referred to the need for redecorating work to be carried out, noting "this is the second time this has been pointed out - if this is not complied with formal action will be considered".

Meanwhile in their report on Asquith Court School in Warsash the inspector noted that the wash hand basin appeared not to be in regular use and felt the need to point out to kitchen staff the importance of regularly washing their hands.

The man in charge of food safety for Southampton City Council, Gavin Derrick, told the Echo there was nothing to worry about in the reports. He added that the standard in school kitchens in the area was very high.

He reassured parents that all the issues that were raised in the reports have either been resolved or are set to be dealt with.

Ken Thornber, leader of Hampshire County Council, said: "We take our responsibility for the health and wellbeing of pupils and staff at our schools very seriously.

There were lots of positive comments among the inspectors reports. Inspectors noted that Bridgemary Community School had very good standards' as did Gomer Junior/Infant School.

And St Vincent College was recommended for a Gold Shipshape Award thanks to its high standards.

The inspectors noted that Chandler's Ford Infant School appeared very well run', Shakespeare Junior School had a high standard of cleaning throughout' and Wyvern Technical College had good standards of hygiene'.