On Friday the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced two proposals that would roll back some Obama-era nutrition reforms for school meals and summer meals for food-insecure children.
The first proposal would allow schools increased flexibility in school menus, promising that children would continue to receive "wholesome, tasty meals." However, the American Heart Association strongly opposes the changes, noting that schools would not have to serve as many healthy foods, could serve more fried foods, and that students would be able to choose unhealthy a la carte items such as pizza without having to put fruit or vegetables on their tray.
The proposal is the latest in a series of moves by USDA to weaken or change nutrition mandates for school meals, partly at the behest of food-industry lobbyists. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has criticized the Obama-era reforms, saying they have increased waste because many students don't like the food, but his own agency has reported that the changes produced "remarkably positive" results, that kids were eating the healthier food, and that waste was "relatively unchanged."
The second proposal would give schools more flexibility over the Summer Food Service Program, including allowing them more control over the menu (as with school meals), meal-service times, and allowing children to take some nonperishable foods home. The proposal would also reduce paperwork, shorten the application process for experienced schools, and would increase program monitoring. That could help rural areas, where administrative headaches have made it difficult for some schools to participate in the program.
The first proposal would allow schools increased flexibility in school menus, promising that children would continue to receive "wholesome, tasty meals." However, the American Heart Association strongly opposes the changes, noting that schools would not have to serve as many healthy foods, could serve more fried foods, and that students would be able to choose unhealthy a la carte items such as pizza without having to put fruit or vegetables on their tray.
The proposal is the latest in a series of moves by USDA to weaken or change nutrition mandates for school meals, partly at the behest of food-industry lobbyists. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has criticized the Obama-era reforms, saying they have increased waste because many students don't like the food, but his own agency has reported that the changes produced "remarkably positive" results, that kids were eating the healthier food, and that waste was "relatively unchanged."
The second proposal would give schools more flexibility over the Summer Food Service Program, including allowing them more control over the menu (as with school meals), meal-service times, and allowing children to take some nonperishable foods home. The proposal would also reduce paperwork, shorten the application process for experienced schools, and would increase program monitoring. That could help rural areas, where administrative headaches have made it difficult for some schools to participate in the program.
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