School Nutrition Association objects to some meal standards
March 29, 2011 | 06:01 PM
The School Nutrition Association told the Agriculture Department today that it objects to many of the key changes in school meal standards that the agency has proposed following the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act in December.
SNA, which represents the preparers of school meals, said in official comments that the agency should delay implementation of revised breakfast meal plan requirements until additional funding is found.
The association noted that while the bill provides schools an additional 6 cents per meal, USDA has estimated the cost of preparing a school lunch could rise by more than 15 cents if the proposed rule is fully implemented, while the cost of preparing a school breakfast could rise by more than 51 cents.
SNA urged USDA to change its weekly requirement for legumes, dark green and orange vegetables to encourage rather than require their use, and to ease the limits on starchy vegetables.
The group also said it will be hard to meet the requirement to reduce sodium by more than 50 percent within 10 years because there are so few low-sodium canned goods available. And, it said some schools may find it difficult to meet the whole grains requirement because those products are hard to find in some areas of the country.
The proposed rule, released in January, is open for public comment until April 13. USDA is expected to release the final regulations at the start of next year.
SNA, which represents the preparers of school meals, said in official comments that the agency should delay implementation of revised breakfast meal plan requirements until additional funding is found.
The association noted that while the bill provides schools an additional 6 cents per meal, USDA has estimated the cost of preparing a school lunch could rise by more than 15 cents if the proposed rule is fully implemented, while the cost of preparing a school breakfast could rise by more than 51 cents.
SNA urged USDA to change its weekly requirement for legumes, dark green and orange vegetables to encourage rather than require their use, and to ease the limits on starchy vegetables.
The group also said it will be hard to meet the requirement to reduce sodium by more than 50 percent within 10 years because there are so few low-sodium canned goods available. And, it said some schools may find it difficult to meet the whole grains requirement because those products are hard to find in some areas of the country.
The proposed rule, released in January, is open for public comment until April 13. USDA is expected to release the final regulations at the start of next year.
