Ketchup ban at council's schools

School chefs make their own tomato sauce but won't use bought-in bottles

Tomato ketchup is the latest foodstuff to be banned from canteens at some schools as part of a move towards healthier eating.

Bought-in bottles are off the menu at Vale of Glamorgan primary schools and one parent called the move "daft".

The council said the policy is not to use "mass-produced foods," but produce fresh food on the premises.

It follows news Marmite has been banned from Ceredigion's school breakfast clubs due to worries over salt content.

Sharon Chapman, 47, whose eight-year-old son Rory attends Peterston-Super-Ely Primary School in the Vale of Glamorgan, said: "He came home from school and said 'We can't have ketchup any more'.

"He can live without it and the healthy meals at the school are fantastic, but this seems one step too far as they only used to have it once a week on a burger anyway. Now he says the burger is really dry.

"Tomato ketchup contains lycopene, which is good for you, but they say it's got a high level of salt and sugar.

"While it's not something you complain about, it seems a bit daft."

Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Gordon Kemp said: "The policy is not to use mass-produced foods, we produce everything fresh on the premises.

'Balanced and healthy'

"It's all part of the healthy eating programme and I think our council is one of the leading authorities in Wales in this respect."

Mary Hesford, business manager for Vale Catering Services which provides the primary schools' menu, said they followed guidelines from the Welsh Assembly Government.

She told the South Wales Echo: "Children can have a tomato sauce but now it's one our cooks make themselves. By using home-made sauce we can control what nutrients are in there.

"Ketchup bought in bottles can have high levels of salt and sugar that could be damaging for the children."

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said: "We do not tell local authorities not to serve ketchup in schools. Our guidance on school lunches is not that prescriptive.

"It is for local authorities to ensure that their school meals are as balanced and healthy as possible."