SUMTER COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Parents in Sumter County are speaking out after photos surfaced online showing what they say are unacceptable and unsafe meals being served to students in the district.

One photo shows visible mold on a sandwich bun.

“It’s happening all over again, I just don’t get it, because how do you serve something like that to a child?” says parent, Chuck Foster.

Concerns about the quality and safety of school food here stretch back years. Foster recalls his daughter being served a similar meal in the same school district as far back as August 2017.

Another picture shows slices of partially frozen meat and cheese stuck together.

“My daughter asked if I could bring her lunch, and I told her just eat what the school provided, and that’s when she told me her sandwich was frozen, and it really made me emotional,” says another parent.

Parents say these meals were served to children this week, and some claim similar issues go back years. The complaints have raised new questions about food safety, meal standards, and oversight inside Sumter County Schools.

Parents shared multiple images of the meals, calling them “disappointing,” “unhealthy,” and “unsafe.”

A father who contacted WALB said his daughter was served a similar meal as far back as August 2017, and he believes the district still has not addressed long-standing concerns.

“What if that’s being fed to the younger kids who don’t know what mold is and they’re just eating the food because they’re hungry,” says a parent.

Several parents say their children now bring snacks or packed lunches from home because they do not trust the food provided at school.

“This isn’t just about one bad lunch,” one parent said. “It’s about accountability.”

Sumter County Schools confirmed they are aware of the incident and described it as isolated. The district said they have taken the following actions in response:

• Suggestion boxes available for students
• An open line of communication for parents to report concerns
• A willingness to work with families to find solutions

The district also says that recently, they received ‘A’ marks on the health inspection.

“Since 2019, we have had a very near-perfect health inspection. We have good options and quality meals,” says Margaret Goodin, School Nutrition Director of Sumter County Schools.

Parents say they want answers now, especially since these meals were reportedly served this week. They hope this push brings immediate change.

“They need to do better; the school system needs to do better. Anything that’s given to a school-aged child should be nutritious, and I just want them to fix the problem,” says Foster.

If you do have concerns, the Sumter County School District is asking parents to reach out to them by calling 229-931-8546.

“We need feedback so we can make adjustments and changes. But if you do have an issue with one of our schools with a meal, please contact me and let me know.” Goodin says.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.