?:reviewBody
|
-
Editor's note: This story was originally published in October 2018. The Trump administration announced further changes to school lunch guidelines in January 2020. You can read more about those changes here. The original report continues below. In October 2018, the message Trump cancelled Michelle Obama’s school lunch program. The only meal some kids get was shared by a number of individuals on Facebook: This message has been bouncing around Facebook for at least a year. The most popular example of this message that we could find was shared by Tom Bones Malone in October 2017, but even then the message was outdated and misleading. The phrase Michelle Obama's school lunch program is a bit inaccurate as the former first lady didn't sponsor or pass any legislation mandating the content of school lunches. However, she was certainly an advocate for a healthier lifestyle, and she pushed for better nutritional standards as part of the Let's Move initiative, efforts which inspired the passage of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act by Congress. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said of the bill's passing that: However, as of this writing the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act has not been cancelled -- although the Trump administration did roll back a few of the nutritional guidelines for school lunches set by this Obama-era legislation. For instance, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act reduced portion sizes; placed limits on sugar and fat content; mandated fruit, vegetable, and whole grain servings; and prevented schools from serving flavored milk. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue signed a proclamation on 1 May 2017 which announced that some of those regulations would be relaxed: As of this writing, the Trump administration has not cancelled or repealed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Rather, they have loosened its provisions by changing or delaying some of the school meal nutritional requirements established by that legislation.
(en)
|