During a three-hour meeting, the Senate panel adopted by voice vote a compromise on school lunch. A chief point is for USDA to see if there are enough whole grain products to meet school demand and if not, to identify alternative products for use. Senator David Pryor said the language put the Senate in a very good position for negotiations with the House, which would exempt schools if they lose money for at least six months on meals.
The Senate committee also voted to put white potatoes back into the WIC program while the government conducts a review of the nutritional value of all fruits and vegetables. Potatoes are the only food not in WIC. Appropriations chair Barbara Mikulski said the White House called senators on Wednesday to talk about WIC. First Lady Michelle Obama made some of the calls, Politico said.
Committee members voted 18-12 to ban horse slaughter, 16-12 to make $35 million of Food for Peace money available for direct assistance instead of buying U.S.-grown commodities, and by voice vote to require labels on package of genetically engineered salmon. The FDA has not decided yet whether to allow the fish onto the market.
For the committee summary of the bill, click here.