Again, problems in dining rooms. It is currently located in Hernani (Gipuzkoa) and Durana (Álava). A note published by the parents of the Ikastola Langile de Hernani explains that the Basque Government sent a message to the dining room with the warning of not serving the first dish. By then, monitors ate “damaged food” and claim that one of the children has found a worm on their plate. They ask the Lakua Department of Education to suspend the contract with the company in charge of the service, Serunión, for the poor quality of the food offered.

The parents of the Ikastola Langile state that the food offered by the company Serunión is in the hands of “macro-enterprises”: “The feeding of our children has been left to those who prioritize the economic benefits. What price have they put on the health of our children?” They remember that for many children the dining service is a “only option” and that it is urgent to offer a “quality and health” service.

Langile Ikastola’s parents stressed that “what happened is a reflection and consequence of an entire model” and protested on Sunday at the Plaza de los Gudaris de Hernani to denounce the situation. Dozens of citizens have come to support and the parents of the ikastola have pointed out that from this Monday they will ensure that they offer a “dignified and healthy food” for all children: “We want to develop a model of the food of our children, without difficulties or obstacles from the Basque Government.” Thus, parents ask to be allowed to “decide”.

Not an isolated case

At the Ikastola Ikasbidea public centre in Durana (Araba) there are other problems with the food offered by the company Serunión. A few months ago they also found worms in local food, and last Wednesday they had to remove the second plate because it was more acidic than normal. According to Alea, beyond poor food quality, school canteens in Álava have a broader problem: “In the new centers that are built there is no kitchen and in those that have a kitchen there is an empty room, without steel and without adaptation”.

Government

The Education Advisor of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, Jokin Bildarratz, announced on Saturday the opening of the dossier to the company Serunión, which is in charge of offering catering services in dozens of public schools, as a result of the poor quality of food detected in recent days in both Hernani and Durana. The Department of Education has already imposed an economic sanction.