Four kitchen employees at a primary school in Gyömrő, Hungary were reportedly caught with large quantities of food intended for pupils, after the town’s mayor stopped them in the school car park. Mayor Szabolcs Kisberk called the police, and an investigation has been launched into the case.
Kisberk, the mayor of Gyömrő, reported the incident on social media and also published video footage of what happened. According to his account, the incident took place on the first day of the new school year, when the four kitchen employees were allegedly preparing to leave the school premises around an hour before the end of their official working hours.
They were reportedly leaving with bags full of food
According to the mayor’s account, he stopped the four employees in the school car park and asked them to show him what they were carrying in their bags. An inspection reportedly revealed significant quantities of food used for school catering.
One particularly striking detail was that, according to the account, the food had been divided equally among the four employees. The mayor said this was not simply leftover food that kitchen staff might normally be allowed to take home, but ingredients intended to be served to pupils, reports 444.hu.
Only 900 grams of six kilograms of grated cheese allegedly left for pupils
One of the largest quantities involved was reportedly grated cheese. According to the account published by the mayor, the kitchen had six kilograms available, of which 5.1 kilograms had allegedly been put into the employees’ bags. That would have left just 900 grams for several hundred pupils.
The same amount of sliced ham was reportedly available. Of the six kilograms, the employees allegedly took 3.5 kilograms, leaving 2.5 kilograms for the children. According to the report, the six kilograms of margarine were also divided equally between the employees and the school kitchen’s supplies for the pupils.
Vegetables, fruit and prepared meals also found
The food allegedly taken was not limited to sandwich ingredients. According to the mayor’s account, nearly three kilograms of green peppers and five kilograms of peaches were also among the items found.
The list also included soup pearls, several prepared sandwiches, portions of cooked food and a diet meal. The mayor further reported that several kilograms of cooked side dishes had been hidden in one of the refrigerators.
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Police called to the scene
Following the incident, Kisberk contacted the police. Officers from the Monor Police Department reportedly arrived at the scene and took action. According to the published account, all four employees admitted to the alleged offence during the police intervention. Pest County Police have confirmed that an investigation is indeed under way in connection with the case.
However, as the criminal proceedings are still ongoing, the four people involved cannot legally be considered convicted offenders at this stage. Their criminal responsibility will ultimately be determined through the relevant legal proceedings.
According to the mayor’s statement, the employment of all four kitchen workers was terminated following the incident. He said they were dismissed with immediate effect as part of disciplinary proceedings. The case has attracted particular attention because the food used in school catering is intended specifically to provide meals for pupils, while parents also contribute towards the cost of the school meals.
Parents and residents outraged
The incident has reportedly caused considerable outrage among parents and local residents in Gyömrő. According to the accounts published following the incident, some parents have questioned whether similar losses may have occurred previously and whether such practices could have affected the portions served to children.
However, there is currently no verified evidence in the available sources that similar incidents took place in previous years. The current case alone cannot establish that this was a long-standing practice.
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Tighter checks planned
Following the incident, the mayor said the local authority would introduce stricter controls in the kitchens of municipal institutions. The planned measures reportedly include closer monitoring of food stocks and stricter accounting for ingredients used in school catering.
The police investigation is ongoing, and the precise legal circumstances and responsibility of those involved will depend on the outcome of the proceedings.
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