More than eight of every 10 Americans say school nutrition standards “should stay the same or be strengthened,” said the WK Kellogg Foundation in releasing results of a new poll. An even larger majority – nine out of 10 – “say it’s very important or somewhat important to serve nutritious foods in school to support children’s health and ensure children are ready to learn and be successful,” said the foundation.
U.S. child nutrition programs, headlined by school lunch, cost $21 billion a year and are due for reauthorization this year. The Senate Agriculture Committee has scheduled a meeting to draft its bill on Sept. 17. The House Education Committee has not set a date for writing its version.
“The survey comes as supporters and opponents of the school nutritional standards fight over the cost of providing healthier foods,” said the New York Times, pointing to arguments that the 2010 school food reforms are unduly costly. “House and Senate agriculture appropriations bills have provisions to suspend a crucial provision of the law that reduces sodium levels until additional science establishes a benefit of sodium reduction for children.”