Republicans in the Iowa House tried but failed to delay controversial new nutrition standards for the food that’s available to students in Iowa schools.
The Iowa Board of Education soon will consider standards which limit the fat and calorie content of items students can select from an ala carte menu in school cafeterias. The rules would also limit what’s sold in vending machines.
Representative Scott Raecker, a Republican from Urbandale, said a whole new menu for students in Urbandale public schools won’t measure up.
"Specialty sandwiches that were started this year (like) reubens, turkey clubs, turkey ham clubs, bacon-cheddar burgers, philly steak sandwiches beef-and-cheddar sandwiches and chili dogs are not allowed in Urbandale High School after July 1," Raecker said. "And they won’t be allowed in your school either."
Raecker said by following just the fat content standard, some pretty healthy foods might get banned.
"We want to tell schools that they can’t serve a four-ounce yogurt in their schools, fine," Raecker said.
Democrats in the House voted down Raecker’s proposal to delay the new rules. The debate over school lunches came during House consideration of a bill that outlined state education spending for the next budgeting year. During that debate, the House voted to require an American flag be on display in every school gym or assembly hall and legislators from both political parties voted to require all schoolkids to recite the pledge of allegiance in school every day.