Top state official calls for fryer ban to be removed in schools

AUSTIN, Texas — Could the deep fryer come back to Texas public schools? A top state official wants to remove the fryer ban. KUT in Austin reports: “Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller wants to end a decade-old ban on deep fried food in Texas public schools. Miller, who was elected last year, believes local school districts — not the state or federal government — should decide whether schools serve fried foods. He says the ban on deep fat fryers goes against his philosophy at the Department of Agriculture. … The repeal of the ban of deep fat fryers is one of six proposed changes to the Texas School Nutrition Policy that Miller submitted last month. He also wants to remove restrictions on the sale of carbonated beverages. … Some nutrition experts think the commissioner is setting a bad example when it comes to making sure students are eating healthy.”