Sign-on letter to USDA re: Proposed school meal rule 85 FR 4094

A sign-on letter circulated by CSPI, to the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding its “Simplifying Meal Service and Monitoring Requirements in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs” proposed rule (85 FR 4094). In our view, the changes would decrease school meal participation by encouraging a la carte purchases, which is both a fiscal risk to school meal programs and an equity concern. Moreover, the proposal would allow less fruit and less variety of vegetables, which likely would result in replacing them with starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, which children already overconsume.