Man starts school banana campaign

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/manchester/8004789.stm

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A concerned father-of-two plans to hand-deliver bunches of bananas to pupils after Wigan Council took them off the menu because of "expense".

Councillor Gary Wilkes, who lives in Bryn with his two daughters, said some of the young pupils have been deprived of their favourite foods.

Red peppers have also been removed from the schools' food selection.

A council spokesman said the fruit was out of season, making it too expensive, but it would return to the menu.

'Short supply'

Mr Wilkes said: "I don't think they are that expensive, in fact I would say bananas are some of the cheapest fruits.

"Bananas are really popular with the kids, my daughter Rachel, loves them.

"They are also the healthiest of fruits, they keep the kids going because of their slow-releasing energy."

He wants the council's catering division, MetroFresh to reinstate them.

A council spokesman added: "The red peppers are between seasons at the moment and the bananas are expensive because they are in short supply.

"MetroFresh, our supplier, has won awards for the healthy food it supplies children and we always strive to produce healthy, nutritionally balanced meals."