TWO VIEWS ON SCHOOL MEAL RULES

Last week, the Agriculture Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee proposed a waiver process that would allow schools to opt out of new school meal nutrition standards if they decide they are too costly. The standards require schools to replace high-fat, high-sodium, and “empty-calorie” foods, plus sodas and other sugary drinks, with a balanced diet including whole grains, lean proteins, more fruits and vegetables, and low- or nonfat milk. Republicans on the subcommittee, supported by the food-industry-backed School Nutrition Association, argue that the rules are creating big problems: food-service operations are losing money, kids are throwing nutritious foods in the trash, and schools can’t meet the stringent new demands. 

In contrast, USDA, which wrote the rules that Congress authorized in 2010, asserts that: 

▪      Kids are eating more fruits and vegetables as a result of updated standards. A recent Harvard study concluded that in schools following the new standards kids are eating 16% more vegetables and 23% more fruit at lunch.

▪      Over 90% of schools are successfully meeting the updated nutrition standards.

▪      School lunch revenue is up. A USDA analysis suggests that in the rule’s first year net school lunch revenue increased nationwide by $200 million.

▪      Healthy food standards have not increased food waste.  

The Appropriations Committee is scheduled to debate the Agriculture Department funding bill today (May 29, 2014). 

Source: Politico, 5/26/14, School Meals-NO; USDA, 5/20/14, School Meals-YES