Lawmaker reintroduces bill that would eliminate pesticide from school meals

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has reintroduced a bill that would eliminate the use of chlorpyrifos on produce served in school meals. 

According to a fact sheet sent out by Gillibrand, chlorpyrifos is a pesticide that, if ingested, has been linked to adverse effects on the nervous system and can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, convulsions, respiratory paralysis and, in extreme cases, death. 

Under the Safe School Meals for Kids Act, the USDA would be required to establish a maximum residue level of 0.001 microgram/kilogram for chlorpyrifos in foods. Foods that exceed the maximum residue level would not be allowed to be served in school nutrition programs such as the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and more. 

The USDA would also have to conduct reviews every 10 years to make sure schools are in compliance.

The bill is one of many that has been introduced ahead of Child Nutrition Reauthorization.