Although it’s hard to believe, school lunches are unhealthier for your children than most fast food chains, including McDonald’s and KFC. We’re following up on Nate’s great post about cafeteria food.
A recent investigation conducted by USA Today showed that 77 million pounds of “old hen meat” are being served in schools, amounting to approximately 145 million dollars. Spent hens, so called because they can no longer hatch eggs, are not a favorite consumer product due to their brittle bones, which are prone to splintering. Although a common component of pet food, “old hen meat” cuts short for human expectations: they increase rates of salmonella, especially in children. Campbell Soup Company, as well as the KFC Company, do not use spent hens due to “quality considerations.”
But there’s still hope for school lunches. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan revealed that the USDA was beginning Farm-to-School Tactical Teams in order to give cafeteria fresh food. In addition, they are also giving schools access to 50 million dollars so they could purchase fresh and locally grown produce. New purchasing guidelines are also being installed, focusing primarily on organic and healthier food.
Most kids consume the greater part of their daily calorie intake throughout the school day. For most kids, school lunches set an example for proper eating habits. The habits they pick up at schools now could stay with them the rest of their lives. We hope that the USDA will work on making cafeteria food more nutritious and tastier.
