District Finds It Doesn't Need to Remove Fruit Stickers

Foodservice workers at the Manson (WA) School District have for the past two years spent considerable time removing those brand/price sticker tags from the some 650 individual apples served a couple times a week in district schools because they thought that was a health requirement. Not so, the district just learned, according to a report in the Seattle Times.

The "mandate" was apparently put in place by an overcautious inspection official several years ago. However, the stickers are considered "not a major food safety issue of any kind," according to a representative of the local health board, and removing them is suggested but not required.

Sounds like some labor time has just been freed up...