PENNINGTON, N.J. – A New Jersey school district and its food vendor are apologizing for a culturally insensitive Black History Month lunch menu that featured fried chicken, sweet potato casserole, greens and cornbread.

“The decision to include these items without any context or explanation, reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission and efforts to improve cultural competency among our students and staff,” Hope Township superintendent Thomas Smith wrote in a statement cited by NJ.com.

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The issue centers on the Feb. 16 lunch menu at Hopewell Valley Central High School: fried chicken, sweet potato casserole, sautéed spinach, mac & cheese, cornbread, and peach or apple crisp.

“The suggestion was to do something to celebrate soul food,” Cathy Penna told the news site.

Penna is the vice president of Pomptonian, the district’s food vendor. She contends the menu was created with the help of a school food service director, and was not intended to offend anyone.

“Pomptonian deeply regrets that, out of context, this menu may have been perceived by individuals as insensitive or in poor taste,” Penna said. “The director at this location never intended to do anything that would offend anyone and deeply regrets the decision and understands that it could have been taken out of context.”

According to NJ 101.5:

The National Center for Education Statistics shows Valley Central’s total student population of 1,249 in 2014-15 included 48 black students and 45 Hispanics. Students from Hopewell Borough, Hopewell Township and Pennington Borough attend the school.

It’s unclear who, if anyone, complained about the soul food for Black History Month, but its obvious most folks who learned about the strife online think it’s ridiculous.

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“Someone better make sure Cinco de Mayo isn’t taco day,” ilikenjnews posted to the NJ.com comments.

“The superintendent should have NEVER apologized, that just fuels and justifies the stupidity of this,” Liberal Tears Forever added. “Utter stupidity.”

“How about we drop all the heritage days and months and just stop being offended by everything,” ppllmm wrote. “It’s come to the point where no matter what you say, do or try to do someone will be offended.”

“There is a whole world full of people desperate to find something to be offended by. This is a perfect example. Perhaps the Black History Month menu should be pirogis and wanton soup?” I Speak The Truth posted.

“So what’s next Colonel Sanders is racist for making fried chicken?” Right is right. wrote.