School dinner portions to shrink under new plans & kids given ‘lesser quality’ meals amid soaring food costs

SCHOOL dinners will either get smaller or nastier as rocketing food prices force caterers to cut costs, kids have been warned.

One of Britain’s biggest wholesalers said pupils’ meals will inevitably get worse as rampant inflation puts the squeeze on budgets. 

Bidford boss Andrew Selley said: “The situation is going to lead to some difficult decisions for school caterers.

“Either they are going to serve smaller portions or use cheaper ingredients, which is not going to be good for children.”

He added that baked goods, pasta, eggs and chicken are all being affected by price hikes.

The warning came after the Bank of England governor yesterday said Brits faced “apocalyptic” food prices.

Inflation is currently at a punishing 7 per cent but is feared to bust the 10 per cent barrier later this year.

This morning Marks and Spencer boss Archie Norman became the latest voice to warn of double digit pain.He told the BBC: “

It’s very negative for consumer discretionary income but it’s perhaps not apocalyptic,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“It wouldn’t be surprising to see food price inflation over the course of the year running towards eight per cent to 10 per cent.

“But we don’t know that yet because it runs through the year – some has run through now but there is quite a lot still to come.”

The food guru, who was previously a Tory MP, said food retailers are operating on “very thin margins” that will force them to put up prices.

Mr Norman added: “The crunch is not going to be now, it is going to be in the autumn after people have come back from their holidays, spent their money and there is nothing left in the kitty.”