CT District Again Opts Out of State's School Food Certification Program

For the third year in a row, the Westport (CT) Board of Education has voted not to participate in the state's Healthy Food Certification program for food serviced outside the federal reimbursable meals program, reports the Westport Patch. The district emphasizes that it complies with healthy food standards, the Connecticut Nutrition Standards imposed by the Healthy Food Certification program are too restrictive and costly to implement. Among other things, they require all condiments to be low-sugar and -sodium, reduce the amount of salt used in cooking, ban all caffeinated beverages and reduce portion sizes to levels that alienate many students.