A SURVEY of schools receiving meals from catering firm Sodexho has revealed concerns about the food it serves up.

Sodexho is Wiltshire County Council's contractor and took over the provision of meals in 2001 when the council's in-house service folded.

A report of the survey undertaken on behalf of the county council's Sodexho school catering task group, said: "Concern over food quality was evident throughout the questionnaires, with suggestions the quality should be improved for the price charged. Some schools suggested the cheapest possible ingredients were being used and Sodexho allowed an inadequate budget.

"The vast majority of schools requested a reduction in processed, reformed or reconstituted foods, especially meat. Concern was expressed over the general nutritional content of meals, particularly the salt and fat content and limited availability of fruit and vegetables."

On the question of food quality 40 per cent of schools said it was average, 25 per cent thought it was poor and only 20 per cent thought it was good.

Noe of the schools thought the nutritional value of the meals was good, 41 per cent of schools thought it was average, 31 per cent thought it poor, 15 per cent thought it good and 13 per cent thought it very poor.

The survey also revealed ten per cent of schools would end their contract with Sodexho now if possible, although the contract is due to continue until March 31 2008.

The report adds: "Most schools do not feel they are getting value for money, with portion size also different to that agreed. Some state the quality of school meals have decreased since Sodexho took over."

The cost of a school meal is £1.68 and the menus change weekly.

At Box Primary School 73 per cent of parents said they were not happy with Sodexho's meals.

Generally parents felt there was too much fried food, too much fat, salt and sugar and food was sometimes overcooked.

Sandy Fletcher, headteacher of St Peter's Primary School in Devizes, said take up of Sodexho's meals had fallen since the contract started in 2001 to around 30 per cent of the pupils.

She said: "Some parents give their children a cooked meal when they get home at night and so don't want them having another cooked meal during the day. Others find it expensive. I quite often have a school meal and I still think it's value for money."

Bishops Cannings Primary School near Devizes reinstated hot meals in March last year. Although the number of pupils eating hot meals has dropped from 75 to 51 headteacher David Wade did not think it was due to disappointment with the meals.

He said: "I have not had anyone complaining to me about the meals. The kids seem to enjoy the food, they eat well and there is always plenty of food for them."

Rob Parsons, headteacher at Stanton St Quintin Primary School said they were happy with the dinners provided by Sodexho. He said: "They do a very difficult job. It's a balancing act because they have to provide a healthy two-course meal for £1.50. It is hard."

Mr Parsons said their catering manager at the school worked hard to be creative with the meals and responded to the children's wishes.

"There is flexibility and she can play around with the menus. When we first took out the contract there was no flexibility."

Just half the parents of children having school dinners at Woodborough Primary School said they were happy with the meals, although they all said they would welcome any improvement.

Parents and children were asked to comment on the quality and quantity of food served up by Sodexho.

A report to county councillors said: "Concern was expressed over poor quality and poor and soggy food.

"Of the 36 providing packed lunches seven had changed from purchasing hot meals due to concern food was cold and processed."

Sixty six parents of the 136 children at the school responded to the meal questionnaire and many said they would prefer to see food prepared and cooked on the premises .

The mums and dads requested "additive-free food, less fat and carbohydrate and more fresh fruit and vegetables."

Of the 75 pupils who responded 50 per cent said their food was hot but two-thirds felt they were not getting enough to eat.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Trevor Carbin said: "The positive findings of this report are that parents and children are well aware of the importance of healthy eating and of the potential of using schools' purchasing power to benefit local producers. This needs to translate into pressure on Sodexho to improve the service they provide to Wiltshire schools."

A spokesman for Sodexho said: "The survey shows there are different perceptions about school meals.

"Sixty one per cent thought the food quality was average to good and 62 per cent thought the menu range was average to very good. We are working closely with the county council to find ways we can enhance the service."