Thu Sep 12 00:53:50 UTC 2024: ## Peoria High School Student Finds Moldy Pizza, Sparks Concerns About Food Quality
Peoria, IL – A moldy pizza munchable served at Peoria High School has reignited concerns about food quality within the district. Candace Howard, a parent, and her son, Alinyjah Nellum, a junior, shared photos of the mold-infested pizza, prompting outrage on social media.
Nellum, who took the pizza from a grab-and-go fridge, says he immediately noticed the mold and alerted a cafeteria worker. However, she reportedly hid the contaminated food, urging Nellum to choose something else.
Peoria Public Schools (PPS) spokesperson Marjorie Kauth insists that all pizza munchables were served on Monday and none were leftover for Tuesday. Kauth also claims no student complained about moldy food.
Organic Life, the district’s food vendor, maintains that they regularly review food inventory and discard questionable items.
However, Nellum insists he took a pizza munchable out of a fridge that still contained several others on Tuesday. This incident is not isolated, as Nellum and other students have reported issues with the food served at the school, including undercooked chicken sandwiches, stale bread, and mold on other items.
Parents and students have long voiced concerns about food quality at PPS. In 2022, over 100 parents shared their frustrations with the Journal Star, and state Rep. Jehan Gordon Booth even proposed a bill aimed at improving school food.
Howard, who also has a grandson in the district, worries about the potential for children, especially younger ones, to unknowingly eat contaminated food. She plans to raise these issues at the next school board meeting on September 23.
Howard is determined to provide her son with a lunch, despite limited resources, because she believes he should not have to risk his health for a school lunch. The situation highlights the ongoing struggle to ensure the quality of food served in Peoria Public Schools.
First Piper 