ANGRY parents marched on a primary school yesterday after teachers took crisps and chocolate from children's lunchboxes in a crackdown on junk food.
The boxes were searched before lessons and unhealthy snacks locked away until the end of the day. Yet the lunch menu in the school canteen included fatty chips and pizza.
As the heavy-handed tactics were slammed, it was revealed that bans created a black market in junk food, with children selling snacks in the playground at break-time.
Debbie Cummins was among 20 parents who protested to the school. Debbie, 43, whose seven-year-old son Christopher had crisps and a chocolate biscuit grabbed, said: "I've got no problem with healthy eating - I've got a problem with schools and the Government telling me what to do.
"Christopher's packed lunch contained a sandwich, fruit juice, a yogurt, a packet of crisps and a chocolate biscuit.
"What made me angry was that the school canteen actually served pizza and chips the same day." Sheila Masterson, 58, whose eight-year-old granddaughter Chelsea Lee had her chocolate biscuits confiscated, said: "A lot of the children were in tears."
Baynards Hill primary school in Barton, Oxon, has started a campaign to achieve "healthy schools" status.
But head teacher Keith Ponsford admitted: "One or two of our staff have been a bit vigorous. I think strong encouragement is as far as we can go."
Kevin McKay, national chairman of the Local Authority Caterers Association, said bans created a black market. "A lot of children are selling snacks like chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks during break-time," he said.
Voice of the Mirror: Page 6
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