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Senate Committee votes to relax some school lunch regs

Amendment passed by Appropriations Committee suspends sodium reductions, provides for an out on the whole grain requirement.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

July 17, 2015

1 Min Read
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An amendment relaxing whole grain and sodium requirements in the National School Lunch program was adopted in a voice vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee during the markup of a bill that would fund the USDA and FDA for the next fiscal year.

The amendment, from Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.), would allow schools having trouble meeting the 100 percent whole grain requirement for cereal grain products to obtain a waiver that reduces it to a 50 percent requirement, and halts further sodium level reduction requirements until scientific research validates it as viable for schools to meet.

The action, which incorporates modifications to Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 advocated by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) but opposed by the White House, comes as Congress must reauthorize the Act by Sept. 30.

Primary work on the reauthorization in the Senate is taking place in the Agriculture Committee.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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