House Committee Approves Child Nutrition Bill

Today, the House Education and Labor Committee approved legislation "to support children's health and reduce childhood hunger by dramatically improving federal child nutrition programs" according the Committee's press release.

The "Improving Nutrition for America's Children Act," H.R. 5504 was approved 32-13 and includes reforms to improve the quality of meals, implement new food safety guidelines, and would "require schools to set standards for foods served outside the cafeteria" such as foods sold in vending machines.

The legislation also includes amendments offered by Representative George Miller, D-CA, chairman of the Committee.  One amendment involves the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program and aims to "strengthen the science-based foundation" and enhance the Secretary of Agriculture's "authority to conduct scientific reviews."

This amendment is likely connected to scrutiny received over the cost of infant formula containing "functional ingredients" offered through the WIC program.  "Functional ingredient" refers to additives such as DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid that is promoted as benefiting brain development in young children.

According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), WIC spent $850 million on infant formula last year and $91 million of that figure can be attributed to functional ingredients.  For the CBPP report, click here.  To read an editorial by Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post, click here.

To read the House Education and Labor Committee Press Release, click here.
For the full text of the H.R. 5504, click here.

Posted: 07/15/2010