White House nutrition adviser Deb Eschmeyer declined to say if First Lady Michelle Obama will step into the debate over reauthorization of child nutrition programs that cost $23 billion a year. The First Lady backed the 2010 law that requires schools to serve more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy while cutting back on salt, sugar and fat.
During a session with North American Agricultural Journalists, Eschmeyer was asked about proposals by House Republicans to curtail a program that allows schools in poor neighborhoods to serve meals for free to all of their pupils. Eschmeyer responded by saying there was “a really great” bill in the Senate, “a bipartisan bill that preserves progress.”
Eschmeyer did not respond to questions about the bill drawn by Republican leaders of the House Education Committee, which would curtail the so-called community eligibility for universal school meals, and loosen the rules on foods that can be sold on a la carte lines. She shook her head rather than say aloud that she would not comment on it.
Asked if Michelle Obama would take a role in the debate over school meals, Eschmeyer said almost all schools comply with the 2010 reforms and that consumption of fruit and vegetables as part of school meals was on the rise. Critics say the new rules are too costly and inflexible and result in more food waste.