Apparently the LACA were slowly getting on with improving school meals, menus were more healthy and numbers of pupils taking dinners were on a steady increase, year on year.

Since JO came along with his TV series, numbers have declined by 9%.

Nice one Jamie - don't let facts get in the way of your ambitions.

Don't get me started on Gillian McKeith.

The Local Authority Caterers Association represents the private companies that are ripping profit out of the system originally created to ensure that all children had access to at least one "substantial", "healthy" meal per day.

These private companies are the ones that have been underpaying staff, resulting in a general loss of skills throughout the industry and a lowering of the nutritional quality of school meals in a drive to reduce the unit costs involved.

Jamie Oliver may have taken advantage of a situation, but that situation was of LACA members own making and has resulted in a massive shake up of authorities, once again, taking some responsibility for the quality of what is being paid for.

"Take up" numbers are used as propaganda. It is not the responsibility of Local Authorities or schools to offer crap in order to satisfy childrens cravings.

It is up to schools to keep their gates closed during the day and for children to either eat a school dinner or a packed lunch that they have brought with them.

I don't blame the kids for scarpering for lunch at the school I work at... food is awful. Their idea of "healthy eating" is to put out a selection of wilted lettuce and tinned sweetcorn next to the chips and gravy. The jacket potatoes are minging and if we're lucky there might be one or two apples and shrivelled up banana - sandwiches are made more "healthy" by having one slice of white, one of brown (?). If I didn't have to que up next to the kids I'd be down the chippy too. It's bad enough having to fight with the other teachers over the last low fat yoghurt...

Dread to think what goes into the burgers that they sell... common staple for the kids that do stay on site is cheese topped with beans with a "chocolate" cookie - thats what free school meals gets them!

I'm sorry, I was a bit mixed-up there.

Yes. If the current meals are crap, there is no justification in making the children take them.

However, if the changes take place and all meals offered are wholesome and healthy. My recommendation of "dinner or packed lunch" stands.