Pictograms

Marseille, September 2024

For many pupils, going back to school also means going back to the school canteen. A culinary nightmare for some, an example of relentless privatisation for others, school canteens have become the focus of political battles over what goes on the menu, not only on the children’s plates but also on this poster.
The brightly coloured logos are more than just decorative; they highlight the multitude of new constraints that are being placed on the service provider. In addition to the origin of the meat and the European Union support shown in the legend at the bottom of the poster, the many pictograms refer to the legend on the right, from blue to green, passing through orange and red. Some signs are not specific: the ‘AB’ or ‘AOC’ logos, for example, are well known, but others are more mysterious.
For example, the local character of the food is highlighted by three separate pictograms: one for fisheries resources, another focusing on local production, and a third marking the culinary territory of Provence (even though Marseille is not in Provence, but let’s not be fussy when we know that ‘local’ is generally defined by sourcing from less than 200km away).
The beauty of the pictograms is redoubled by their combination, the simple ‘ cantaloupe’ on Friday being organic, local and partly funded by the EU. The tomato salad on Thursday is organic and local, unlike the cucumber, which is only organic. As for olives, they do not come with any qualification, which could make them suspect.
In fact, all these signs are positive and their accumulation is a sign of a restrictive public policy. Well, almost all of them, since the beautiful snow crystals are a ‘defrosted’ product, an absolute horror when it’s still Indian summer. Phew, it’s only there in the legend, so parents will be reassured…