The investigation began with complaints from parents on social media: children were returning from school with trays containing cold semi-finished products, "wet" rice with an unpleasant odor, and "clumped" buckwheat. Journalists from "Odesa Life" decided not to limit themselves to words and conducted an experiment, gathering photographic evidence and impressions from students at several educational institutions in the city.

Experiment: what children are actually eating

The editorial board selected two schools for observation where meals are delivered by LLC "Factory of Taste". Over the years, this company has become the largest supplier of ready-made lunches in Odesa, but at the same time, it has been a constant figure in scandals surrounding budget catering. For several days, parents and students themselves photographed breakfasts and lunches, sending the photos to journalists.

The results turned out to be more indicative than any official reports. The photographs recorded:

  • Cheese pancakes which, according to the children, were completely cold.
  • Buckwheat with stewed meat, where fat covered the plate in chunks.
  • Soggy sides and salads that the schoolchildren barely touched.

Often, after a few spoonfuls, children pushed their plates away, limiting themselves to just a boiled egg or a bun. One of the students, in a correspondence with his parents, described his lunch with the phrase: "Mom, it was so terrible that I couldn't eat it". After classes, journalists saw a mountain of plates with whole, untouched dishes.

The paradox of the "healthy" menu

The problem is not just the temperature of the food. Even if the dishes were hot, children massively refused individual elements of the new menu. Part of the diet complied with healthy eating standards: grated carrots without salt and oil, baked goods without sugar. However, parents note: "All this is, of course, correct, but dishes must not only be healthy but also tasty. Or at least edible".

Monopoly and criminal cases

Why, despite complaints and hundreds of millions of hryvnias that the city spends annually on nutrition, does the situation not change? An analysis of tenders, contracts, and court decisions revealed a worrying picture. The system of supplying ready-made meals to Odesa schools shows signs of a monopoly: for years it has been divided among a narrow circle of firms.

The largest player in the market continues to receive new orders, even though it is involved in a fresh criminal case by the Odesa police. According to current rules, as long as there is no court verdict, there are no obstacles to participating in public procurement. There are almost no competitors — tenders are announced, but no one comes to bid.

LLC "Factory of Taste" was registered in May 2015 and began receiving its first budget contracts just a few months later. Today, it is the largest supplier which, according to the investigation, continues to hold its positions despite the head of the Odesa City Military Administration's demand to deal with the monopoly.