Santa Barbara Unified School District eliminates processed meats

Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) in Santa Barbara, Calif., has eliminated processed meats from its foodservice, The Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine reports.

Menu items such as cold cuts, hot dogs, bacon and pepperoni are no longer being served in the lunch line. SBUSD is believed to be the first district in the nation to ban them.

School officials say that the decision to eliminate processed meats was due to the scientific evidence that they are linked to cancer.

“SBUSD is committed to serving our students nutritious foods that will help them learn and grow. It’s the right thing to do to ensure that our students are getting the highest-quality food. There’s no room for carcinogens on the lunch line,” SBUSD Food Services Director Nancy Weiss said in a statement.

Read the full story via pcrm.org.