USDA To Be Questioned On Lack Of Soymilk Available In Schools

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USDA To Be Questioned On Lack Of Soymilk Available In Schools

Sun, 28 Apr 2002 14:41:17 EDT

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cecibn, Penzelda

 

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/news.asp?id=4328

 

USDA to be questioned on lack of soymilk available in schools

 

24/04/02 - The US Department of Agriculture is expected to be asked at upcoming

consumer input sessions why soy milk has not been included in school lunch

choices.

 

The push for soy milk at schools follows increasing sales of soy products across

the US. Included are a growing variety of soyfoods such as soyburgers, soy

hotdogs, soy ice cream and other products that appeal particularly to school-age

children.

 

The Agriculture Department previously approved soyburgers as substitutes for

regular hamburgers, and the US Food and Drug Administration now permits labels

on soyfoods to state that the product can reduce the risk of heart attacks.

 

According to the Washington Post, the USDA plans ``listening sessions'' across

the country later this year as the department prepares for reauthorisation of

its National School Lunch programme. " Any revisions to the school lunch

guidelines will go before Congress for approval next year,'' the newspaper

reported. Officials will discuss soy milk if it comes up at these sessions, USDA

spokeswoman Jean Daniel told the Washington Post.

 

Daniel, who is director of public affairs for food and nutrition at the

Department of Agriculture, said present regulations require that milk be served

with school lunches, and if not, the meal is not considered to be reimbursable.

Milk is defined as cow's milk, the newspaper said, and added:

 

" While many school systems would like to offer soy as a choice, the US

Department of Agriculture won't reimburse them for it, except in case of medical

need.''

 

Some US school systems depend for more than half of their cafeteria funds from

the federally-assisted meal plan, according to the newspaper. The report added

that mainstream researchers and other health advocates say that soy milk does

not have the hormones found in cow's milk and is easier for many people,

especially minority children, to digest. Medical studies have shown that African

Americans, Latinos and Asians " all have a higher incidence than the general

population of lactose intolerance, which means they cannot easily digest cow's

milk.''

 

Source: Foods for the Future

 

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