Andalusia investigates school catering after worm larvae found in rice and portion disputes emerge
The Andalusian government launched inspections into school catering services following the discovery of insect larvae in rice at a Granada school and portion complaints in Córdoba.
Larvae discovery at CEIP Tínar in Albolote
Regional authorities in Andalusia opened an administrative investigation after insect larvae were detected in a school meal in Granada province. The incident occurred on 18 September 2026 at CEIP Tínar, a primary school in the municipality of Albolote. A pupil captured footage of the contaminated rice dish using a watch fitted with a camera, prompting an immediate complaint from the school parent association (AMPA). The catering company responsible for the dining service operates through a cold-line distribution system. Official dispatch records show that the organic brown rice was prepared in a central kitchen in Málaga on 14 September 2026 before transit to Granada for service four days later.
Catering company response and safety inspections
Following the complaint, the catering contractor issued an apology to families and initiated an internal audit protocol. The firm submitted documentation to regional education authorities detailing raw ingredient sourcing, route sheets, refrigeration monitoring, and temperature control logs. To verify sanitary standards, inspectors reviewed meals provided by the same contractor at CEIP Fuentenueva in Granada on 25 September 2026. Documentation reviewed by health authorities concluded that the catering company met regulatory requirements for food hygiene during that follow-up inspection. The Andalusian Public Education Agency requested full compliance dossiers to determine whether contractual conditions were breached.
- Rice dish is prepared at the catering company central kitchen in Málaga
- Meal is served at CEIP Tínar in Albolote, where a student films larvae in the dish
- Health inspection validates hygiene practices during catering service at CEIP Fuentenueva in Granada
- Regional education authorities address complaints and confirm ongoing audits
Regional oversight and portion disputes in Córdoba
The findings in Granada coincide with separate food quality disputes across Andalusian schools. Parents in Córdoba province reported inadequate portion sizes at three school canteens, including CEIP Salvador Vinuesa, where a video circulated showing fried eggs accompanied by almost no ratatouille. Andalusia serves more than 200,000 school meals daily across directly managed and contracted canteens. Oversight relies on two bodies: the Andalusian Public Education Agency, which enforces contract specifications, and the Evacole program run by health authorities to inspect nutritional quality. Regional Education Minister María del Carmen Castillo addressed the cases during an event in Seville on 30 September 2026.
When there is a complaint, as happened in this case where there was apparently a menu that was not in good condition, both the health inspection and the Andalusian Public Education Agency are sent immediately to check what is happening.
Corrective procedures and administrative penalties
Castillo acknowledged family grievances regarding meal presentation but stated that social media platforms frequently magnify localized canteen incidents. The regional ministry is evaluating whether financial penalties or contractual corrections should be imposed on catering providers following the completion of case files. In Albolote, the catering concessionaire maintains that the organic brown rice originated from an approved supplier and possessed standard food safety certifications throughout distribution. Regional education authorities have requested additional records from the catering provider to confirm that proper storage and preparation standards were met at every stage.
