Soy milk coming to school lunches?

[Guest guest]

Thu, 17 Oct 2002 14:56:46 -0700

Andrew Davie

Soy milk coming to school lunches?

 

Soy milk coming to school lunches?

Group claims offering dairy products only is discrimination

Thursday, October 17, 2002 Posted: 11:04 AM EDT (1504 GMT)

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A physicians' group has asked the Agriculture Department to

allow schools to serve soy milk as part of the subsidized school lunch program,

arguing that many minority students cannot digest dairy products.

 

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which promotes alternatives

to animal use, claims that the school lunch program discriminates against

minority students.

 

The USDA does not reimburse school districts for soy milk unless students

provide a doctor's note demonstrating a medical need. The federally assisted

lunch program requires that cow's milk be offered.

 

" When the National School Lunch Program was established in the 1940s, lactose

intolerance was thought to be rare, but it is now known to be the rule among

children of color, " said Mindy Kursban, the committee's chief legal counsel.

 

Agency spokeswoman Jean Daniel said only Congress can change the rules.

 

She said child nutrition programs must be renewed by Congress next year, and

that the USDA will be proposing changes based in part on public comments.

 

Kursban said that the USDA can make changes on its own.

 

Food fight

The physicians' group claims that USDA's policy violates the National School

Lunch Act, which requires the program to accommodate all children's dietary

needs.

 

In addition to children who are lactose intolerant, the policy is unfair to

students who don't consume dairy products for religious or ethical reasons, the

committee argues.

 

Jean Ragalie, a dietitian and spokeswoman for the National Dairy Council, said

only dairy products can provide the kind of nutritional benefits that children

need.

 

" The changes they are proposing would dilute what the nutrition program is

supposed to do -- which is to provide the best nutrition package for the most

children, " Ragalie said.

 

The physicians' group said soy milk has fewer calories, less fat and just as

much calcium as whole cow's milk. In addition, studies show that soy may help

prevent cancer, osteoporosis and heart disease, the group said.

 

Brenda Z. Greene, director of school health programs for the National School

Boards Association, said she supported the group's petition.

 

" Our goal is to make sure that as many children as possible have access to the

school lunch program, " she said. " Schools need to be able to adapt, and

regulations need to adapt to the changing needs. "

 

Schools have not been the only front on the soy milk battle. In 2000, a federal

judge ordered the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, penitentiary to provide soy milk to a

vegan prisoner.

 

 

 

 

 

Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos, & more

faith.