Food Complaint At The Tamaqua School Cafeteria

Jessica Maria Mendez-Behr says that her son Jeremiah, a Tamaqua Area High School freshman, ate a cheeseburger with a moldy bun as part of his school lunch March 30 and got so sick with vomiting and diarrhea that she took him to an emergency room for treatment.

She said he was served another moldy bun eight days after that, and a third moldy bun Tuesday. Jeremiah Mendez-Behr said that also Tuesday, the lunch tray he'd chosen had grease on it.

Administrators and directors of the school district said they've already investigated the allegations, and that the bun vendor has explained the occasional discoloration on buns as a result of the cooking process.

Several parents and students attended the school board meeting Tuesday and raised questions about the quality of the school lunches.

"What is factual is that your child got sick," said school board President Larry Wittig, who had examined the emergency room report Mendez-Behr presented. "But we would need to draw the connection definitively."

Wittig said that the district investigated immediately when it learned of the boy's illness. He said that the bun vendor said that a "non-stick agent" that's used in the baking process can sometimes leave a residue, which causes discoloration.

Superintendent Carol Makuta said that the district has used the same vendor for about six years.

Mendez-Behr said that after her son's illness, she had contacted various state agencies and also the Tamaqua Board of Health. She also launched a Facebook page titled Tamaqua School "Lunches."

Makuta told Mendez-Behr that if she has any issue with the school or school policies, she should call the school.

"We haven't had a rash of students reporting to be sick; but still, a report such as this is taken very seriously," Makuta said. "I would ask you, instead of going to Facebook, call me."

After some discussion, the directors decided to implement a protocol for responding to any student complaints about school lunch quality.

Makuta said she would develop a protocol, and contact Mendez-Behr on Wednesday about it.

Wittig said the district will continue to be vigilant.

"We don't want you to go away feeling frustrated," he said. "We'll find out what's going on."

Tamaqua senior Tyler Resch, who was attending the school board meeting to complete a Boy Scout merit badge requirement, said that he has no complaints about the school lunches.

"I've been in school in the district for 12 years," he said. "The lunches are fine; I've never had anything to complain about."

In other action, the school board:

Accepted the retirement of custodian Joseph Deren, effective July 28.

Accepted the retirement of Janet S. Rarick, elementary school teacher.

Hired the following substitute teachers: Lisa Frederick of New Ringgold; Eric Leymeister of Pottsville; and Joshua McCabe of Frackville.

From The Times News