Southwark Liberal Democrats have called on the council to expand universal free school meals to secondary school pupils.
Labour-run Tooley Street has funded free school meals during term time since 2010, but free school meals for secondary school pupils remain means-tested.
The council confirmed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday that it was exploring if the scheme could be expanded to secondary school pupils.
More than 1,600 Southwark kids not taking up free school meals offer
Leader of the Southwark Liberal Democrats, Cllr Victor Chamberlain, said: “We think every child and young person at school should be given a free school meal.
“As the council leader said it’s ‘common sense’, but currently that only applies to those under 11 in primary school. Why would we not afford 11 to 16-year-olds, and their families, the same support? Particularly right now when so many families are struggling.
“The council must make a solid commitment that Southwark will expand universal free school meals to all secondary school pupils and produce a strategy for how this will be delivered.”
The Lib Dems sent a letter to cabinet member Cllr Stephanie Cryan demanding they commit to expanding the scheme and outline a strategy for doing so.
The letter said Southwark is particularly vulnerable to a “looming” cost-of-living crisis. In 2019, the GLA found that one in four residents in Southwark had low food security, meaning 75,000 people were at risk of real hunger, it added.
In August, the News reported that more than 1,600 Southwark children eligible for free school meals were not taking up the offer.
The Children’s Society charity said this could be because of stigma, with some families or children ashamed of asking for help.
The News approached the council for comment.