A proposed federal rule accepting comments until April 15, 2015 proposes changes to meal pattern requirements for young children served by the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) to better align with updated nutrition guidelines. Several proposed revisions would extend to affect the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Special Milk Program to be more consistent across all Child Nutrition programs, as well as move toward more nutritious meals for children in day care. (more…)
nutrition
Update: Protect Key Programs Critical to Child Nutrition
In a previous post on June 23, 2014, Dr. Michelle Ting highlighted H.R. 4800 (Sec. 739), the U.S. House bill concerning the Agriculture Department’s 2015 FY budget. Dr. Ting explained that the bill threatens to weaken federal child nutrition programs by creating a waiver from compliance with current nutrition requirements for schools that are able to demonstrate a net loss, for at least six months, from operating a food service program. With many children receiving as much as 50% of their daily caloric intake from meals at school, school nutrition standards play a large role in reducing the rate of pediatric obesity. (more…)
Protect Key Programs Critical to Child Nutrition
For decades, Congress has wisely ensured that federal child nutrition programs be guided by scientific recommendations from the Instutite of Medicine (IOM) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA), which the AAP supported, the USDA strengthened nutrition standards for school meals, based on recommendations by the IOM. These updated lunch standards have been in place for two years, and include provisions such as insuring more fruits and vegetables in school children’s lunches. 93% of lunches currently served meet these improved nutrition standards. As children receive up to 50% of their calories at school, it is critical that school meals are healthy, balanced and age appropriate. (more…)
Partially Hydrogenated Oils
On the Federal Register this week the FDA has announced that they have tentatively determined that partially hydrogenated oils – the primary dietary source of trans fats – are not generally recognized as safe. Were they to make this determination final, partially hydrogenated oils would not longer be able to be sold as ingredients in foods. The FDA is requesting comments and scientific data through January 7.
Tentative Determination Regarding Partially Hydrogenated Oils
Read more from the FDA, from the New York Times, and from a lady who seems like she knows what she’s talking about.
by Dolly Lucio Sevier, MD
Pediatric Advocacy 