I AM a catering manager at a senior school in York and a fully-qualified chef with two trainee cooks working with me.

The menu we offer, and always have done since I took over the kitchen eight years ago, comprises a pasta dish, meat dish, vegetarian dish, snacks, sandwiches, a salad bar and drinks - mineral waters, and fruit juices. I have never put a turkey twizzler on my counter.

I have seen the take-up of school meals fall drastically because of Jamie Oliver tarring us all with the same brush, and I am sure my fellow school catering managers will feel the same.

I invite any parent who has concerns over the quality of our meals to come and try our food for themselves. We find the children themselves, half the time, do not know what some of the dishes are, will not try them and live on chips.

Yes, we have tried non-chip days. The pupils just turn and walk to the nearest fish and chip shop.

So, please, stop thinking we are bad for your children. We are not.

Kath Jeanes,

North Yorkshire County Caterers,

Joseph Rowntree School,

New Earswick, York.

Updated: 10:42 Thursday, June 02, 2005