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Education

USDA Relents: New Limits on Meat, Grain Consumption in Schools to Be Lifted

Dec. 8, 2012 8:02pm
USDA Allows More Meat, Grain in Kids Lunch After Criticism of New Regulations

(Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — The Agriculture Department is responding to criticism over new school lunch rules by allowing more grains and meat in kids’ meals.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told members of Congress in a letter Friday that the department will do away with daily and weekly limits of meats and grains. Several lawmakers wrote the department after the new rules went into effect in September saying kids aren’t getting enough to eat, despite the misleading “Hunger-Free Kids Act” title.

School administrators also complained, saying set maximums on grains and meats are too limiting as they try to plan daily meals.

“This flexibility is being provided to allow more time for the development of products that fit within the new standards while granting schools additional weekly menu planning options to help ensure that children receive a wholesome, nutritious meal every day of the week,” Vilsack said in a letter to Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.

The new guidelines were intended to address increasing childhood obesity levels. They set limits on calories and salt, and phase in more whole grains. Schools must offer at least one vegetable or fruit per meal. The department also dictated how much of certain food groups could be served.

While nutritionists and some parents have praised the new school lunch standards, others– including many conservative lawmakers– refer to them as government overreach.

Though broader calorie limits are still in place, the rules tweak will allow school lunch planners to make their own meals, and use as much grain or meat as they want.

The new tweak reportedly doesn’t upset nutritionists who fought for the school lunch overhaul.

Margo Wootan, a nutrition lobbyist for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says the change is minor and the new guidance shows that USDA will work with school nutrition officials and others who have concerns.

“It takes time to work out the kinks,” Wootan said. “This should show Congress that they don’t need to interfere legislatively.”

But Congress has already interfered with the rules. Last year, after USDA first proposed the new guidelines, Congress prohibited USDA from limiting potatoes and French fries and allowed school lunchrooms to continue counting tomato paste on pizza as a vegetable.

The school lunch rules apply to federally subsidized lunches served to low-income children, and in recent years the number of such students has markedly increased. Those meals have always been subject to nutritional guidelines because they are partially paid for by the federal government, but the new rules put broader restrictions on what could be served as childhood obesity rates skyrocket.

The government still allows schoolchildren to buy additional foods in other parts of the lunchroom and the school. Two years ago, Congress directed the USDA to regulate those foods as well, but the department has yet to implement them.

Sen. Hoeven, who had written Vilsack to express concern about the rules, said he will be supportive of the meals overhaul if the USDA continues to be flexible when problems arise.

“This is an important step,” he said. “They are responding and that’s what they need to do.”

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Comments (47)

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  • Tom70
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 1:53pm

    So the lady with the big butt didn’t have a better idea for kids lunches and her faux garden didn’t produce what the food NET scammed us that it did. Isn’t propaganda wonderful?

    Report this comment

    Tom70  
    • teaisstronger
      Posted on December 10, 2012 at 11:16am

      THAT PHOTO OF THE BLACK GIRL STARING AT THE WHITE GIRL IS A DELIBERATE INSULT BY USDA TO WHITE CHILDREN

      Every white parent should be concerned about what the Government is encouraging.

      Report this comment

      teaisstronger  
  • WildschweinJager
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 1:30pm

    Eat more pork!

    Report this comment

    WildschweinJager  
  • dosdelgados
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:42pm

    My kindergartener is underweight. Her school no longer offers whole or chocolate, only fat free and 1%. We also have a list of things we cannot pack in lunches, because children trade and share. My poor girl’s growth slowed again and we put her in a church private school where her snacks and lunches are provided by us. So much better!

    Report this comment

    dosdelgados  
  • dumpdabums
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:25am

    So.. The “First Lady” was wrong ?? the first ***** in the armor ? Nah ! just a case of parents and kids speaking up against a foolish and baseless policy executed by a know it all buttinsky.

    Report this comment

    dumpdabums  
    • Mainer311
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:38am

      In the school I work in the students were told last fall that they no longer needed to bring in snacks because a “healthy snack” would be provided for them every day. Hah! One day last week they got two shriveled green beans. Another day they got three, yes, three, grapes. One day last spring we were supposed to hand out three pieces of spinach. None of this is enough to fill them up. Occasionally they get something decent, like a banana or an apple, but fruits are rare. All of this is paid for with government grant money, and the people who stand behind it try to say that the small amounts of food are to be blamed on conservative politicians who are “gutting the program.”

      Report this comment

      Mainer311  
    • Living In NYC
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 8:09am

      We don’t need to cut down food in-take..we need to teach the kids how to burn calories. Typical federal govt waste…gee let’s fix the asphalt roadway…but forget the bridge maint the over the river!

      Dummies at work in DC…they have no idea of the simple formula…”Cause and Affect”!!!!

      Report this comment

      Living In NYC  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 8:36am

      …an-it-all ALNSKEY!! Checkout her terrorist ties with radicals/friends in her entire life! This is why she was”CHOSEN” FOR HIM by Rev-Wrong and other radials in CHICAGO for his necessary new polittical agenda/sennator-one-term/pres-2-term…crash the U.S.A., institute Agenda21 and the NewWorldOrder!!

      Report this comment

      G-WHIZ  
  • raderby
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 4:49am

    the USDA had limits on GRAINS? That is a dumb and dumber thing….. whole grains are a key factor in good nutrition, and staying “thin” – it is the damned soylent green fabricated crap that causes obesity…. we keep eating that garbage because our needs of real food are never met – plus, when you stress out rats in a closed environment – they resort to overeating if allowed – and will eat each other.

    Probably that is the real reason the gov’t is again forcing a supposedly free people into a tiny box, be it space, or mental space. Take freedom away, and it is like a prison cell. Feed the prisoners marginal junk, and decide to put them on a diet? You get violence. Riots –

    any psych 101 class will show that.

    LOOK- progressivism is worse than hard core marxism – it like tearing the bandage off v-e-r-y slowly, and slowly wrapping barbed wire from the ankles up. The marxist hard core just shoots people in the head. Makes no fancy cover stories to show their true nature.

    Sick, cruel, insane, and stupid. Progressives are a danger to all people, including themselves: because one day – and it might be 1000 years from now, when the dark age of our current age is fought out of finally – one day the spark of freedom will final say to the progressives: today you die. We hold no pity for you or this action we take. You are genetically broken, you are a disease. For the survival of the human race and all that believe in freedom…… you now breathe your last breath.

    Report this comment

    raderby  
  • texaswoman
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:42am

    “to allow more time for the development of products” Hmmmmmmmm…. Soylent Green, anyone? This sounds just too creepy!

    Report this comment

    texaswoman  
  • AmericaMustBeFree
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:26am

    LOL.. another Obama failure! It pays to scream now doesn’t it!

    Report this comment

    AmericaMustBeFree  
  • BlessedONE333
    Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:02am

    hey blaze, is that photo you picked out on your home page about this article meant to look like moochelle as a kid bossing around a little white kid? – because that’s what people on fb are saying lol

    Report this comment

    BlessedONE333  
  • Silversmith
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:59pm

    Shove off Michelle

    Silversmith

    Report this comment

    Silversmith  
  • uptickusa
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:55pm

    looks like kong had a kid

    Report this comment

    uptickusa  
  • flatbroke
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:41pm

    Perfect example of anything the gobment gets involved in turns to S**T instantly, when all they had to do was take away the sweets and chips, and fries and add more fruits and vegies, and leave the breads and meats alone, i mean it doesnt take a rocket scientist does it!

    Report this comment

    flatbroke  
  • SUNTZU
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:02pm

    Price going up
    Eat all you want

    Report this comment

    SUNTZU  
  • Jake Dog2
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:36pm

    If the goverment had not been involved in the first place there would be no kinks or tweaks to be made.

    Report this comment

    Jake Dog2  
  • vtxphantom
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:25pm

    Moochella is not an accredited dietitian. She should have nothing to do with children meal planning or the education of the kids. Keep this pencil neck geek out of our schools. There are too many perverts influencing our children already!

    Report this comment

    vtxphantom  
    • soisay
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 10:11pm

      Do you assume the national school lunch program was not reviewed by dieticians? I understand infinite vegetables were available upon request, just not french fries.

      Big agra loves processed meats and HFCS, and has billions to spend making them sound like smart choices. Green beans and broccoli have to rely upon common sense and parents’ good choices.

      I fail to see the problem in going after whole food solutions to meals provided free by the government and for purchase by children.

      Report this comment

      soisay  
  • jman-6
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:00pm

    Can’t wait to see all the posts from the shade tree nutritionists!

    Report this comment

    jman-6  
  • jman-6
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:55pm

    Here’s some food for thought..[pun intended]…Watched a segment of Stossel last week and he had a few doctors, nutritionists, and scientist on and every single one [lib included] said the USDA guidelines have been wrong since the food pyramid was introduced! The problem they said was the fact that everyone’s body breaks down food differently and therefore a one size fits all approach is not only useless but can contribute to the problem of obesity. The worse part is the govt. has known this since the late 70s.

    Report this comment

    jman-6  
    • booger71
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:06pm

      I saw that too. I have on Dr Attia’s change in eating lifestyle for 10 days, and have lost 7 pounds. 60% fat/35% protein/5% non bread/cereal carbs.

      Report this comment

      booger71  
    • drs1969
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:53pm

      I saw that show, too. I’m glad they’re finally admitting it. It’s pretty obvious that blacks, native-americans(hispanics) and asians are getting fat and diabetic on the white man’s diet of far too many starches. I have enough native blood in my family to know this is the main problem. The USDA has pushed the farmers’ agenda since the beginning.

      Report this comment

      drs1969  
    • followthefounders
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 10:24am

      Speaking of Food….. wow, how about this to increase your food security…. and earn money in the process. And it’s FREE to join in December. Can’t beat that with a stick !
      http://www.Eat-To-Earn.com

      Report this comment

      followthefounders  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:53pm

    I guess we have learned, starving, hungry kids don’t do well in school, but then again, this was just an attempt to make everyone equal. If one kid in school is going hungry, shouldn’t all go hungry, to make it equal. And all kids should get exactly the same amount of food, no matter what size they are, or if they are in sports. After all, you simply treat everyone like a drone, and soon, they all will be, Resistance is futile, you will be assimilated into the collective.

    Report this comment

    Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • skippy6
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:47pm

    These a holes in the govt are cracked in the skull!! They don’t understand the meaning behind the individual!!!! Some people need more calories than others!!! Just because someone has an ass wider than a mack truck doesn’t mean everyone has to cut down on consumption!!!! I say let them eat what is sufficient for the individual… Power back to the parents!! Not the DOE…..They don’t give a sh@t about your kids, it’s all about control…Moochele control……

    Report this comment

    skippy6  
  • hillbillyinny
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:46pm

    Protein, good fats (with ESSENTIAL fatty acids), moderate amounts of whole grain, veggies and fruits in age appropriate portions is a perfect diet for growing and active children, teens, and young adults. As we age, many of us need to go on lower carbohydrate eating plans in order to maintain proper blood sugar, cholesterol, lower blood pressure and keep weight at a reasonable limit.

    Meat is much more satiating that carbs–but if you have eaten a high carb diet your system will have to adjust to meat/fish/poultry and egg proteins. These will not raise cholesterol in proper amounts! In fact if you eat sugars (all carbs!), in moderation so that you body does not have to put out high amounts of insulin and/or if diabetic you don’t have to inject high amounts of insulin, you will automatically lower cholesterol, blood pressure and maintain sugar levels.

    Both the nutritional gurus and the diabetes organizations push high carbs diets and it’s killing people!

    Report this comment

    hillbillyinny  
    • drs1969
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:58pm

      Also, high carb diets lower your immunity. When you see sick people in the winter, the odds are they’re eatig way too many carbs. I intentionally cut down on carbs in the winter, to prevent catching colds.

      Report this comment

      drs1969  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:30pm

    Glad to see that the kids won this battle.

    Report this comment

    LeadNotFollow  
  • NOTSMOKINPOT
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:30pm

    Oh boy Michelle will be mad when she hears this! … But she didn’t give up her weekly Five Guys double burger and greasy fries to stuff her fat ass with….

    Report this comment

    NOTSMOKINPOT  
  • 338lapua
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:24pm

    American Public-1 “smart people”-0

    Report this comment

    338lapua  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:23pm

    Here is a nutritional supplement the usda is missing: EXERCISE

    of course regulating this is difficult.

    Report this comment

    Stoic one  
    • the_truth_or_not
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:35pm

      @STOIC ONE

      What do you think this says about the failed 20-30 yr. experiment of ‘safe child’ at no cost. Removing playgrounds that are less than 4′ off the ground and you cant play on it for the fear you might get hurt.

      In my area, I am starting to see play groundless public schools. I was at my friends house when there was a commercial on announcing the movie Dodge ball was going to be aired, he looked embarrassed when his twelve year old boy asked “What is Dodge ball?

      Report this comment

      the_truth_or_not  
  • qpwillie
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:12pm

    Uh oh!! Michelle is not going to like this!! Bodies starved for complete proteins and carbohydrates are much more receptive to brainwashing.

    Report this comment

    qpwillie  
  • mastice
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 8:08pm

    But… but… but…. I thought the livestock industry was one of the biggest contributors to (man-made) global warming. Doesn’t eating more meat mean we are destroying the planet that much more?

    Inquiring minds want to know.
    (all sarcasm above)

    Report this comment

    mastice  
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