Jamie's grub leaving a sour taste

Hot dinners could disappear from Dudley schools with the council saying it can not afford to keep providing the service as pupils shun healthy dishes championed by Jamie Oliver.

The news comes as the celebrity chef today launched a scathing attack on school kitchens saying half do not have proper facilities and should be shut down.

From April 1 2009 Dudley schools will be expected to pay for a hot meals service from their own budgets rather than relying on the council to fund the service.

But council chiefs fear this could lead to a number of schools opting to close their kitchens which could in turn lead to several school cooks being made redundant.

The popularity of school meals has waned in recent years following moves by the Government, under pressure from chef's like Jamie Oliver, that items such as turkey twizzlers and large amounts of fried food should be axed in favour of healthier options.

The number of primary school children who are eating a hot cooked meal in Dudley has dipped from 9,600 per day in 2006/07 to 9,400 in the current financial year.

In terms of secondary schools the number of pupils opting to bring their own packed lunch or buy something from outside the school canteen has seen the total income per day fall from £7,900 in 2006/07 to its current average of around £7,100.

Councillor Liz Walker, cabinet member for children's services, said: "Jamie Oliver hasn't done us any favours.

"It is very sad that is has come to this but the bottom line is the pupils, particularly at secondary school, just don't like the new options.

"With the regulations governing what children can consume, which has put up the cost of ingredients, and less pupils eating dinners we just cannot afford to maintain the provision.

"We have been left with little option but this decision could potentially lead to a number of schools deciding to close their kitchens and opt out of offering a hot meal."

She said the council is still considering how to deal with the issue of children who are entitled to free school meals but said it is likely to be several weeks before a final decision is made.