Marcus Rashford criticises 'unacceptable' food parcels sent to kids

Marcus Rashford has criticised food parcels that have been sent to children and families during the coronavirus lockdown.

Families have claimed on social media that parcels worth little more than £5 are being handed out in place of £30 school meal vouchers.

Rashford shared his anger on Twitter after seeing photos of the parcels posted by parents.

The Manchester United footballer said: "1 child or 3, this what they are receiving? Unacceptable."

The footballer had shared images of what appeared to be the parcels, saying they were "just not good enough".

The families receiving the parcels would normally qualify for free school lunches.

But now that schools have closed for remote learning due to new coronavirus restrictions, families have been given the option of food parcels or vouchers.

However, one mother posted the photo below claiming that this is what she was given to feed her children for 10 days in a food parcel.

The picture shows a loaf of bread, a bag of pasta, one can of baked beans, some cheese, three apples, two carrots, one tomato, two baked potatoes, two bananas, two malt loaf snacks and three snack size tubes of yoghurt.

She estimated the cost of the items in the photo to be £5.22, rather than the £30 vouchers she is entitled to.

Chartwells, the company which the mother said provided the parcel, responded by saying it would investigate the issue.

Rashford shared a photo of what one family had been sent in replacement for free school lunches

Prime Minister Boris Johnson's official spokesman said: "We are aware of those images circulating on social media.

"It's clear that the contents of those food parcels are completely unacceptable.

"The Department for Education is looking into this urgently and the minister for children, Vicky Ford, is speaking to the company responsible and they will be making it clear that boxes like this should not be given to families."

Rashford (pictured right) has been leading a campaign to make sure no child in the UK is left hungry

Rashford has led a campaign over the last year for free school meals to be given to vulnerable children during the coronavirus pandemic.

In response to the photos being shared on Twitter, he said: "Then imagine we expect the children to engage in learning from home.

"Not to mention the parents who, at times, have to teach them who probably haven't eaten at all so their children can... We MUST do better. This is 2021."