US: School apologises for sending letter to parent complaining about pupil's lunch

A school has issued a formal apology after a teacher sent a letter to a parent reprimanding him for his daughter's "unhealthy" packed lunch.

The letter read: ''The cafeteria reported to me that Alia's lunch today included four chocolate bars, a bag of marshmallows, Ritz crackers and a pickle. Please see that she packs a proper lunch tomorrow."

The letter asked for a parental signature, to which the Missouri teacher wrote: "Request declined."

Family GP Justin Puckett posted the letter on Facebook criticising the Kirksville Primary School teacher for their "big brother" approach after explaining the exact contents of the lunch box.

"Big brother... at least get your facts straight before intruding," Dr Puckett wrote. "I was aware of her lunch contents. Four pieces of ham, low fat string cheese, pickles, 4 marshmallows, and a small piece of dark chocolate (she did have 2 extra pieces, one for her brother and another for a friend who we know well and her parents are ok with this).

"There were no crackers. Sure, I'd liked her to pack a few more veggies and maybe a piece of fruit, but we compromise on pickles occasionally."

Dr Puckett was contacted by the school principal, Tricia Reger, who apologised for the letter.

But he told ABC 3: "I'm responsible for them and for the choices that they make and do whether it's at school or not.

"I have the ultimate responsibility to raise my children and I take that role very, very seriously and so maybe I took it bit more personally that there was some offence that maybe I wasn't doing a good job in that duty, something that is my number one job."

A statement from the school said: "We have as educators been directed to provide healthy and nutritious foods for so long that we had an individual take it upon themselves to send a note home to parents. This will not happen again and I am sorry for any inconvenience."