Italy's Muslim-friendly school meals swapping prosciutto with curry for children’s meals

Supporters of the initiative argue it is a sensible and inclusive step, given that a significant share of the pupil population cannot consume pork on religious grounds.

Critics, however, have reacted with fury, insisting that accommodating Italy's increasingly diverse demographics should not come at the cost of the nation's culinary heritage.

Children from migrant backgrounds account for 21 per cent of Pordenone's school population - nearly twice the national figure of 11 per cent.

In the majority of affected schools, pork products will be eliminated from menus entirely. A smaller number of institutions will continue to make them available upon request.

Regional dietary guidelines in Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, which is governed by a centre-right administration, already recommend prioritising white meat over red. Beef remains on the menu.

Marco Dreosto of the conservative League Party declared: "Respect for other cultures and religions cannot and must not mean giving up our traditions."

Three of the League's European Parliament representatives - Anna Maria Cisint, Silvia Sardone and Susanna Ceccardi - branded the decision to replace pork on school menus as "absurd."

Emanuele Loperfido, the Pordenone chief of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy, struck a similar chord: "It is right to promote coexistence, but it cannot be at the expense of our cuisine."

Gianangelo Bof of Futuro Nazionale - a fledgling party established by a retired special forces general - was equally blunt: "You can't get rid of pork at the lunch table for Italian children just so as not to cause offence."

However, Fausto Tomasello of the centre-left Democratic Party offered a rather different framing: "The first concern of everyone should be making sure that our kids eat healthy food."

Pordenone's mayor, Alessandro Basso, acknowledged local food traditions ought to be maintained wherever feasible, but stressed the importance of providing "alternative dishes so as to respect different religious beliefs."

The school meals controversy arrives amid a broader political reckoning over immigration and integration.

Last month, Ms Meloni's government enacted a decree imposing a 30 per cent ceiling on pupils with limited Italian language proficiency in any single classroom - a measure affecting roughly 1,000 classrooms, or 0.3 per cent of the national total.

The same decree outlawed the wearing of burqas and niqabs in schools, with parents facing fines of up to €1,000 (£870) for breaches.

Ms Meloni characterised the package on social media as "common-sense measures that do not divide but help foster genuine integration, avoiding 'ghetto' classrooms and giving all students equal opportunities."

Opposition parties accused the ruling coalition of exploiting immigration as a political weapon ahead of a general election that must be held within the coming year.