What a waste?

Over the course of this half term, all the Y2s will be visiting the warehouse and ‘Pay as you Feel’ supermarket of the Real Junk Food Project on the Richardshaw Lane industrial estate. The first group went on Friday and visited for about 45 minutes. It was a really interesting visit and we are very grateful to our excellent host Kevin.

The children were introduced to the scheme and spent some time in the supermarket area. They put some fruit and vegetables out onto the shelves. They then had a sorting activity to do, arranging a series of jars and packets according to their best before dates. Kevin then showed us the freezers and industrial fridge where dairy and meat products are stored. Finally, the children went to the ‘weighing in’ area where we sorted a crate of intercepted food into different food groups such as: fruit and veg; dairy and protein; carbohydrates; fats and sugars. The children were very impressive in their knowledge of food groups, having had lessons on this last half term. The children were weighing their different food groups when a special visitor arrived, having just intercepted a load of bread before it was thrown out by a supermarket. The children ‘high-fived’ Fred the Fox before heading back to school.

The key learning was about the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’.  Most foods are perfectly safe to eat beyond their ‘best before’ date whereas there are likely to be health risks if we eat beyond a ‘use by’ date – usually meat, fish and dairy. Kevin did say that meat that is close to its ‘Use by’ date could be frozen and then eaten within a month.

We were delighted with this initial visit – we are the first school group that they have ever had – and we wish the scheme the best of luck. We will be continuing with ‘Fuel for School’ stalls outside the old cafe at least twice a week until Christmas.