USDA Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced two proposals to “put local school and summer food service operators back in the driver’s seat of their programs.”
Proposed changes include streamlining administrative review requirements based on past performance; increasing flexibility in the vegetable subgroups requirements for school lunches; allowing schools to adjust fruit servings to reduce waste; providing more options for schools in applying age groups; and expanding the ability of schools to offer more a la carte purchases.
Critics argue the proposals will result in children eating less fruit and vegetables, and more unhealthy food like pizza and burgers in a-la-carte purchases.
