KLA asks USDA to address concerns about school lunch guidelines
Kansas
Kansas Livestock Association President Frank Harper sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing concerns about the implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Fee Kids Act of 2010. While KLA supports a science-based approach to providing healthy, nutritious meals through the school lunch program, some members have reported a significant difference in the quantity of food being served to their children and are concerned about the one-size-fits-all approach of the guidelines.
"Our members believe the new guidelines result in kids leaving the lunch room hungry. They believe the school lunch program is not providing the fuel needed for the active rural lifestyle their kids lead," the letter stated.
To address these concerns, Harper asked Vilsack to provide better resources to help the Kansas Department of Education and local school districts implement the new guidelines. He also requested USDA make certain local schools are being equipped to provide meals that fully reach the calorie and nutrient requirements for each age group. The letter highlighted the need for flexibility in the guidelines to reflect the increased calorie and nutrient requirements of more active students, especially athletes and those involved in after-school activities.
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