School lunch rules driving away students, feds find

Changes intended to provide low-income students with more nutritious lunches at school are actually driving students away from the free or reduced-price meals because of the lessened appeal, according to a new government study.

The U.S. General Accountability Office found that the number of children participating in the program dropped by 1.4 million students, or 4.5 percent, between 2010 and the most recent full school year. The proportion of enrolled students who eat the meals also fell, to 58 percent, from 62 percent.

The GAO cited students’ disinterest in the revamped meals as a key factor, but noted that an increase in the price paid by students for the subsidized lunches was also an influence.

More nutritious options were also rejected by students shopping for snacks outside of schools’ normal meal programs—the so-called competitive foods that are often a revenue stream for K-12 foodservices. The GAO found that competitive-food revenues fell in the eight school districts it studied in preparing the report, once again because new federal rules left less-appealing choices in the students’ eyes.

The GAO noted that a majority of school foodservice directors are struggling to find options that meet the new competitive-food rules.

The agency, the federal government’s in-house watchdog body, noted that some difficulties with changes in the National School Lunch Program are being resolved. For instance, it noted that less food served under the new stipulations is ending up in the trash.

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And it observed that participation in a breakfast version of the school lunch program “continued its trend of steady increases, which can be explained, in part, by program expansion into more schools.”

The study is likely to stoke ongoing debate about the effects of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which was adopted to provide more nutritious lunches during school time to children from underprivileged families.

School foodservice executives have lauded the intent of the law, but note that it is unrealistic in certain respects. They have asked for such changes as giving students the option of taking a fresh fruit or vegetable at lunch, instead of requiring it. Many report that the produce is taken and then thrown away.

The School Nutrition Association, a trade association representing school-feeding professionals, has also asked for a higher reimbursement for the reduced-priced meals that are provided.

The Act was scheduled to be reauthorized in September, but Congress missed the deadline. It extended the funding until December, freezing the rules in their current state until the reauthorization takes place.

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The GAO study was based on interviews with what it’s labeled School Food Authorities, as well as school foodservices in eight states.