Parents have told the Department of Social Protection that they are feeding their children’s hot school meals to their dogs amid a raft of furious complaints about the quality of the food. The hot school meals programme provides meals to primary school children across the country, with a range of providers producing the meals. Last month, social protection minister Dara Calleary contended that a review of 400 schools by a dietitian found that at least a third of hot school meals do not meet basic nutrition standards. The parent said they contacted the hot school meal provider, explaining the allergy and highlighting that the menu had not listed milk as an ingredient. The hot school meal provider told the parent that the meal was a vegetarian meal and not a vegan meal.

Source: Irish Examiner March 09, 2026 06:38 UTC