Owens writes to Secretary of Agriculture on school lunch calorie requirements
From the Office of Congressman Bill Owens
PLATTSBURGH – Congressman Owens wrote to Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack today about the new federal school lunch calorie requirements. The letter follows several conversations with parents and school officials who expressed concerns with the new rule.
“I have heard from many parents and school officials concerned about these new calorie requirements,” said Congressman Owens. “As a supporter of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, I am particularly concerned that the rules promulgated by USDA may be working at cross purpose to the intent of the law: to provide students with a healthy meal to improve their performance during school and afterschool activities, particularly in circumstances where a child does not have access to healthy meals at home.”
Congressman Owens voted in favor of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which reauthorizes funding for federal school meal and child nutrition programs for five years and was signed into law on December 13, 2010, with support from a diverse group of leaders, including former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR), former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN), and over 100 retired generals and admirals who support child nutrition legislation as a matter of national security. The law authorized the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue regulations to improve school meal standards, under which USDA issued the rule limiting the amount of calories in school meals about which Congressman Owens wrote today.
Under the new USDA rule, a school lunch in grades K-5 must provide between 550 and 650 calories, for grades 6-8 between 600 and 700 calories, and for grades 9-12 between 750 and 850 calories. These calorie levels were recommended by nutritional science experts at the Institute of Medicine to ensure more healthful portion sizes. The USDA rule also requires school meals to offer both fruits and vegetables every day of the week, increase meals rich in whole grains, offer only fat-free or low-fat milk options, and reduce saturated fats, trans fats and sodium.
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 also increases reimbursements for school meal programs, helps schools create and expand breakfast programs, and streamlines the process for children to qualify for subsidized or free school lunches in an effort to address the twin issues of childhood hunger and obesity. The full letter to Secretary Vilsack is attached. Owens Letter to USDA[1]
Posted: October 22nd, 2012 under Congressional News, General News, Youth News.