Obama Administration Issues Final School Lunch Standards
On Wednesday, first lady Michelle Obama and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled final nutrition guidelines for government-subsidized school meals. The new standards -- which were mandated under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 -- will require lunches to include more fruits and vegetables, and less salt and fat. Schools will begin to implement the new standards in September at an estimated cost of $3.2 billion over five years.
- "New Rules for School Meals Aim at Reducing Obesity" (Nixon, New York Times, 1/25).
- "School Lunches To Have More Veggies, Whole Grains" (Jalonick, AP/San Jose Mercury News, 1/25).
- "USDA School Lunch Rules 'Best Ever' -- Though Pizza Is Still a 'Vegetable'" (Hubbard, "Nation Now," Los Angeles Times, 1/25).
- "First Lady Unveils Tougher Nutrition Standards for School Meals" (Pecquet, "Healthwatch," The Hill, 1/25).