Warsaw school catering scandal sparks parent protests

Parents and teachers at Primary School No. 340 (SP 340) in the Ursynów district of Warsaw are reporting serious irregularities regarding school meals. The issues began after the district office took control of the catering tender process, selecting a consortium consisting of Investo Kamil Stopikowski and Iguana Catering.

Complaints include the serving of cold, incomplete, or unpalatable meals, such as meat that is too tough to eat and overcooked rice. Parents have reported children returning home hungry or suffering from stomach pain and diarrhea. Specific hygiene concerns have been raised, including the lack of clean trays and the washing of dishes without detergent. Additionally, there have been reports of meals containing allergens despite dietary restrictions being noted.

Following a false bomb alarm that required a school evacuation, the catering provider allegedly failed to secure food in cold storage. The school administration has notified the sanitary inspectorate (Sanepid), which conducted an inspection, though the school leadership has reportedly not been granted access to the full protocol. Due to these concerns, the number of daily meal orders has dropped significantly from over 700 to fewer than 450.