By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Potato consumption will not be limited to one cup a week in public schools thanks to an overwhelming decision last Tuesday night by the U.S. Senate.
The Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan amendment, authored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), to the fiscal year 2012 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill that would protect the flexibility of schools to serve healthy vegetables in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed a rule that would limit servings of a certain category of vegetables that includes white potatoes, green peas, lima beans and corn to a total of one cup per week in the National School Lunch Program. The proposed rule would also ban this category of vegetables from the School Breakfast Program altogether.
The amendment, co-authored by U.S. Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) and co-sponsored by several of Collins’ colleagues including U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), prevents USDA from moving forward with this “arbitrary, maximum limitation,” while keeping the current requirement that school meals be consistent with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
“I am delighted that my colleagues in the Senate have accepted our amendment,” said Collins in a press release. “This means USDA cannot proceed with a rule that would impose unnecessary and expensive new requirements affecting the servings of healthy vegetables such as white potatoes, green peas, corn and lima beans.”
Collins said she recognizes the need to improve the nutritional standards in the school meals programs, and she supports USDA’s goal to increase the availability of all fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in these programs and to ensure the foods served in schools are delivered in a fashion that meets the nutritional needs of children. Her amendment would allow schools the flexibility to make reasonable and suitable substitutions among affordable fresh and nutritious food options.
“The USDA estimates that this rule could have cost as much as $6.8 billion over five years. The lion’s share of these costs would be incurred by the state and local agencies,” said Collins. “The proposed rule would have also limited the flexibility that schools need to serve nutritious, affordable meals to their students.”
Snowe has also repeatedly objected to the USDA’s proposed rule, maintaining it was not based on sound nutritional science.
“I am pleased that this vital amendment was agreed to in the Senate,” she said in a prepared statement. “The USDA’s track record on this matter is as disturbing as it is wrong-headed. While I am a strong supporter of increasing the number of vegetables available in our school, I believe their proposal simply goes too far.
“The USDA’s recommendations are not based on sound nutritional science and contradict their own 2005 and the most recent 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said Snowe. “Limiting nutritional and cost-effective meals for our children when nine out of 10 Americans are currently not achieving the recommended vegetable and fruit consumption would deny our nation’s youth access to nutrient-rich foods as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.”
The Maine Potato Board agrees with the assessment that the USDA’s rule will not achieve the desired nutritional goals.
“USDA’s proposal is based on the misconceived notion that potatoes are the only vegetables kids eat, particularly in french fry form,” said Executive Director Don Flannery. “There is no science to justify limiting starchy vegetables or potatoes in the school lunch or breakfast program as proposed by USDA. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend greater, not lesser, intake of starchy vegetables such as potatoes, corn, peas and lima beans. Based on a scientific review by a committee of experts, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans — published jointly by USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services — recommends up to five cups of starchy vegetables per week for children. This is an increase of two cups per week compared to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines.”
Tim Hobbs, director of development and grower relations for the Maine Potato Board, said the Senate’s decision was a step in the right direction.
“Bottom-line, this is huge,” he said. “It’s the first win — it’s the first time the potato industry has been able to push back.”
Lori Gilman, food service manager at the Easton school district, said she’s “thrilled” with the Senate’s decision.
“I really think the kids have played a big role in this; their little voices have been heard, as well as all the adults,” she said. “I don’t know how many times here at the school the children have said, ‘Are they going to take the potatoes away?’ and I always tell them, ‘We’re still fighting it and we have a lot of good senators and representatives who are working with us and it looks good that something will take place.’
“For us — in planning now — we can look at our menus again. We were looking at ways of cutting out potatoes, corn and peas … now we can look at our menus differently and I can start adding a few things back. We can start putting our bakers and our baked potato bar back which the kids really enjoy,” Gilman said. “I think the Senate’s decision is going to impact the community, as well. Now I can go back to the farmers and say, ‘I can use your potatoes.’ We also will be able to continue using McCain french fries and hash browns. We’re thrilled that we can stop panicking; I know it’s not the end, but I think it’s looking good.”
Among the organizations that supported Collins’ efforts and opposed the USDA’s proposed rule because it would increase costs and limit school flexibility included the American Association of School Administrators, National School Boards Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, Maine Department of Education, Maine PTA, Maine School Management Association, Maine Principals Association, American Farm Bureau, National Potato Council and the Maine Potato Board.
