Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy has called for caution as the Children’s Commissioner for Wales has reported that children in Wales are going hungry in schools.
Following a ‘snapshot’ survey of 490 children in Wales many have said that they are still feeling hungry after their lunch with only a minority saying they ‘felt full after their lunch’.
Although external guidelines recommend varying portion sizes for primary and secondary school children, the Children's Commissioner revealed that complaints were voiced by older primary pupils who felt they were receiving small portions comparable to those served to four and five-year-olds.
However, it was also highlighted that there is a vast amount of waste from free school meals with some eating a quarter of their food and then immediately discarding it into the bin.
Commenting on this Janet said:
“I know that here in Conwy County we are frustratingly witnessing significant food waste among children, with some being more selective about what they choose to eat.
“It is highly dangerous of the Children’s Commissioner to jump to a conclusion that portrays Wales’s hard working culinary teams in poor light.
“A consultation of 500 children, the equivalent of less than one secondary school in Aberconwy, is extremely weak evidence.
“This matter brings to light a crucial question though. Knowing that there is considerable food waste, should we be asking the kitchen teams to be preparing a more extensive menu, but in doing so, reintroducing charges for those who can afford to pay, so that there is additional revenue for investment in the increase of staff, facilities, and food that would be required?”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o'r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi galw ar bobl i bwyllo ar ôl i Gomisiynydd Plant Cymru ddweud bod plant yng Nghymru yn llwglyd yn ein hysgolion.
Yn dilyn arolwg 'ciplun' o 490 o blant yng Nghymru mae llawer o blant yn dweud eu bod nhw’n dal i deimlo'n llwglyd ar ôl cinio gyda dim ond lleiafrif yn dweud eu bod 'yn teimlo'n llawn ar ôl eu cinio’.
Er bod canllawiau allanol yn argymell amrywio maint y dognau ar gyfer plant ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd, datgelodd y Comisiynydd Plant fod disgyblion cynradd hŷn yn cwyno eu bod nhw'n derbyn dognau bach tebyg i'r rhai sy'n cael eu rhoi i blant pedair a phump oed.
Fodd bynnag, nodwyd hefyd fod llawer iawn o wastraffu prydau ysgol am ddim, gyda rhai'n bwyta chwarter o'u bwyd a'i daflu'n syth i'r bin wedyn.
Wrth sôn am hyn, dywedodd Janet:
“Dwi'n gwybod am sefyllfa rwystredig yma’n Sir Conwy lle mae cryn dipyn o blant yn gwastraffu eu bwyd, gyda rhai'n dewis a dethol yr hyn maen nhw am ei fwyta.
“Mae'n beth peryglus iawn i'r Comisiynydd Plant neidio i'r casgliad sy'n darlunio staff coginio gweithgar Cymru mewn goleuni gwael.
“Mae ymgynghoriad o 500 o blant, sy'n cyfateb i lai nag un ysgol uwchradd yn Aberconwy, yn dystiolaeth hynod o wan.
“Ond mae'r mater hwn yn dod â chwestiwn pwysig i'r amlwg. Gan wybod bod llawer iawn o wastraff bwyd, a ddylem ofyn i dimau'r gegin baratoi bwydlen mwy helaeth, ond wrth wneud hynny, ailgyflwyno proses codi tâl i'r rhai sy'n gallu fforddio talu, fel bod refeniw ychwanegol ar gael i fuddsoddi mewn mwy o staff, cyfleusterau a'r bwyd a fyddai'n ofynnol?"
DIWEDD
