School Nutrition Association to push for ‘flexibility’ in fruit, vegetable mandate
School Nutrition Association to push for ‘flexibility’ in fruit, vegetable mandate
WASHINGTON — The produce industry will likely be gearing up for a fight in Congress this year as the School Nutrition Association released its 2015 position paper Jan. 29 vowing to fight the federal requirements that children eat one-half cup of fruits and vegetables in school meals.
At its March meeting, SNA will take up the new position paper that says the requirement upping the fruit and vegetable servings in breakfast and lunch has “increased waste and costs, leaving schools with less funding to invest in more expensive and appealing product choices such as berries and kiwi.” School food professionals “know best whether this mandate has been beneficial or detrimental and should be allowed to decide whether students must take a fruit or vegetable with every meal.”
SNA is also asking Congress to make the following changes: increase the per-meal reimbursement for school breakfast and lunch by 35 cents; maintain the Target 1 sodium level reductions; restore the initial requirement that at least half of grains offered through school lunch and breakfast programs be whole grain rich; and allow all food items that are permitted to be served as part of a reimbursable meal to be sold at any time as an a la carte item.
This latest news sets the stage for a legislative battle as Congress is set to reauthorize the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 by Sept. 30.
The United Fresh Produce Association immediately responded Thursday to the SNA policy paper.
“While we agree with many recommendations in the School Nutrition Association’s 2015 position paper, we are deeply disappointed that SNA has chosen to continue its ill-advised fight against serving kids more fruits and vegetables in schools,” said Tom Stenzel, president and chief executive officer of United Fresh. “The requirement that kids receive one-half cup of fruits or vegetables in school meals is being successfully met by tens of thousands of schools across the country. Our industry is working hard to assist schools in procurement, storage and handling, recipe development and presentation to make sure great-tasting, affordable fresh fruits and vegetables are being served and eaten.”
In the meantime, new Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) said he planned to eat a school lunch Jan. 30 at a Kansas high school to find out what’s working and what’s not in the school meal program.