Children deserve better than this

Rashford’s fury over paltry parcels meant to feed youngsters for 10 days

- Giles Sheldrick

MARCUS Rashford said Britain’s child hunger crisis was “unacceptable” after parents proved £30 free school meal parcels only contained £5 of food.

The campaigning Manchester United and England footballer shared pictures of one paltry offering that was meant to feed a youngster for 10 days.

An angry mother valued the contents of the parcel at no more than £5.22 if the items were purchased separately at budget supermarket Asda.

Inside were two jacket potatoes, a can of baked beans, eight single cheese slices, a loaf of bread, two carrots, three apples, two malt loaves, three tubs of yogurt, pasta and a tomato. She said: “Issued instead of £30 vouchers. I could do more with £30 to be honest.”

Rashford, 23, who forced the Government to continue free school meals throughout the summer and Christmas holidays, said: “If families are entitled to £30 worth of food, why is their delivery only equating to just over £5? One child, or three, this what they are receiving? Unacceptable.

“Children deserve better than this.” He added: “Then imagine we expect the children to engage in learning from home. Not to mention the parents who, at times, have to teach them who probably haven’t eaten at all so their children can. We must do better.”

Yesterday Downing Street said the contents of some of the parcels sent to families were “completely unacceptable”. Children’s Minister Vicky Ford promised to look into the matter.