York dinner lady subjected to hate campaign over school dinners

A York dinner lady has been subjected to a hate campaign because of her school's unhealthy meals, according to the Daily Mail.

Theresa Topping, who works at the Derwent Infant and Junior School, has received abusive phone calls and takes taxis to school to avoid confrontation at the school gates.

She told the Mail: "I love my job here but we're not paid enough to put up with this constant harassment that I'm living with now."

The campaign included a petition to the governors demanding higher standards of food in the wake of Jamie Oliver's TV show.

One parent complained to the paper about his son's lunch of "fish fingers with bones in, pita bread and a choc ice."

Another said: "We would love to get Jamie Oliver here to see what the children are eating."

Her employer, North Yorkshire County Caterers, denied the claims of poor meals and said they were freshly prepared and of a high standard.

Headmistress Carole Torode has also given Topping her full backing.

Make cookery lessons in schools compulsory, campaigners demand >>

Conservative MP Boris Johnson breaks ranks to attack Jamie Oliver's school meals campaign >>

Jamie Oliver's campaign pushed finances into the red, claims Cambridge Catering Services >>

Government to give guidance on school packed lunches >>

By Tom Bill

E-mail your comments to Tom Bill](mailto:Tom.Bill@rbi.co.uk?subject=York dinner lady subjected to hate campaign over school dinners) here.

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