Four-fifths of schools seeing increase in plate waste

WASHINGTON — The National School Boards Association reported Monday that 83.7 percent of school districts around the country have seen an increase in wasted school lunch food since a 2010 law was passed mandating new nutrition rules.

The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act was aimed at creating healthier school lunches, but several schools have rebelled against the new rules. Many school districts have reported that while the law requires kids to be served a certain amount of fruits and vegetables, much of that food is being thrown in the trash, resulting in a more costly program that’s not getting results.

The NSBA survey seems to confirm that, with its finding that more than four-fifths of school districts are seeing an increase in “plate waste.” The survey said 81.8 percent of schools saw cost increases, and 76.5 percent saw a reduction in participation by students.

Other formal reports about the law have found similar problems. Earlier this year, the Government Accountability Office reported that 48 out of 50 states were having trouble implementing the law.

Anecdotal evidence also continues to pile up about complaints with the law and its effects. On Monday, a Kentucky elementary school said it was banning ice cream and cake from birthday parties — the law does not apply to food brought from home, but many schools are going further than the law requires in their mission to ensure healthier eating.

The law was championed by First Lady Michelle Obama and the Obama administration broadly as a way to improve the nutritional content of food. But complaints around the nation have led to calls for the repeal of the law, or giving schools more flexibility in how they implement it.

The NSBA said 60 percent of school leaders support that, but said 75 percent of them support increased federal funds to