WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL for all the changes that have been made so far, but since the food standard still falls far behind what the YMCA daycares offer for less money, we would like to see a higher standard.
Furthermore, the 10% local food motion is still very weak and far below what local farmers can supply.

We see no reason why Toronto Municipal Daycares could not match and be equally progressive to, or even surpass the YMCA food standard.

WHAT IS THE YMCA STANDARD?

This is a direct quote from their menu:

“We only use 100% natural ingredients, including organic whenever possible. Our chicken, beef, & turkey are hormone and antibiotic – free, naturally & ethically raised.

Fruits and vegetables listed on the menu may vary according to season and availability of fresh, local produce.

All items are free of trans fats, refined sugar, excess salt, artificial colouring, thickeners and preservatives.

We use triple – filtered water for our cooking, which removes chlorine, fluoride and eliminates the risk of E.Coli, Cryptosporidioum & Giardia.”

More History:

Once upon a time, meals in Toronto Municipal Daycares, were made from scratch, but in a cost saving measure, some of the cooking staff was eliminated and as a result, the majority of prepared meals served now are processed.
Consequently, the city lost control over the origin and quality of the ingredients that make up the food served in daycares.

Example:  a cook making food from scratch would not have boxes of tetrasodium pyrophosphate, modified corn starch, or propylene glycol mono fatty acid esters to add to the food while stirring the pot!

Example: in a premade frozen meal, it is not possible to know from which part of the world the ingredients originate and how polluted those lands are.