Last week the US Agricultural & Food Law and Policy ran a story from USA Today in which the paper reported that the meat being served to our children eating public school lunches does not have to adhere to the more rigorous safety standards that fast food industries require for their meat purchases.Given the recent history, Congress is bound to get involved. Thus there is new legislation promoting salad bar usage, using locally grown produce, and the bill will have the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) studying hoop houses to as a means to raise the produce. Hoop houses are thought to be better on the soil, leading to less erosion, and they can prolong the growing season for fruits and vegetables.
As Charles Abbott reports for Reuters the bill would spend $150 million to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables for school. The bill was filed by 16 lawmakers this past Wednesday
With the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act pending in 2010, and when one considers the number of recalls and food-borne illnesses, and given other food safety legislation that has been introduced, never mind that the administration is also pushing changes in the food safety system based on the recommendations coming out of President’s Food Safety Working. Clearly there is a lot going on with food safety issues.
Sam Farr (CA) is a lead sponsor of the bill and he believes the bill would fit-in nicely with the proposals for reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act.
Abbott reports that it is the goal of the President to end childhood hunger by 2015. Back in October the National Academy of Sciences issued a report arguing schools should increase the fruit and vegetable content in the meals school serves.
Now there are plenty of legislative avenues for increasing the fruit and vegetable content in the food our children eat at school.
To read the Abbott story click here.
Posted: 12/17/09
