Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) claimed victory following the announcement that the USDA issued a rule on Friday that eliminates National School Lunch Program restrictions on maximum caloric limits on meats and grains for students.
Roberts, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, sent letters to the Obama Administration and introduced legislation in an effort to lift the USDA’s National School Lunch Program caloric restriction.
“This has been a battle for commonsense in the cafeteria,” Roberts said. “These guidelines were leaving students hungry throughout the school day and athletic events. In the end, we were able to convince USDA to listen to reason.”
The USDA’s final rule stated that schools will be considered in compliance with the meal requirements of the National School Lunch Program under the Health, Hunger-Free Kids act of 2010 if they meet weekly minimum requirements for grain, meat or meat alternatives, as well as total caloric ranges.
In response to legislative efforts, the USDA lifted its caloric cap on meat and grain intake among students for the 2012 to 2013 school year. Friday’s announcement makes the change permanent.
The amended rule provides more flexibility for schools to meet the nutritional requirements of students, and student-athletes in particular, according to its supporters.