Ala. school nutrition pros concerned over USDA rules
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Some faculty diet industry experts in Alabama say they are anxious about a USDA proposal that would place further more limits on school foods, together with on sugar and sodium. Emma Anne Hallman, president-elect of the Alabama School Nourishment Association, mentioned faculty diet professionals already are acquiring problems locating foodstuff that comply with latest criteria.
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Resource connection Nutrition professionals at Alabama schools are voicing concern over recently proposed rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) concerning the nutritional quality of meals served in school cafeterias. According to reviews of the proposed rules, nutrition experts worry that the changes could reduce the levels of healthful foods offered to students, potentially leading to higher instances of obesity and disease among the student population.
The USDA recently proposed new rules that would reduce the amount of fruits and vegetables offered in school lunches. The rules also permit the creation of hamburger and pizza entrees. It is unclear why these changes were proposed, as current dietary guidelines recommend that Americans consume the majority of their daily calories from vegetables and fruits.
In addition to these health concerns, nutrition experts are also worried that the rule changes could contribute to higher costs for food service providers in the state. According to reviews, the rules would require more processed foods which are typically more expensive than wholesome fruits and vegetables. As such, it is unclear if schools and other food service providers would be able to afford these items.
In response to these proposed rules, nutrition experts in multiple states have come out against the proposals. For example, the Alabama State Board of Education has voiced their concerns over the proposed rules, noting that they are not in line with the current guidelines set forth by the USDA. Other states have deployed similar tactics in an effort to prevent the implementation of the rules.
Overall, the rule changes proposed by the USDA have stirred significant backlash from nutritional experts in Alabama and beyond. It remains to be seen whether or not these proposed rules will actually be enacted, although it is clear that there is much opposition to them.