Eight-four percent of North Carolina voters believe school meals should meet the controversial current mandates of the National School Lunch Program, according to a children’s-health advocacy group.
new poll by the Kids’ Safe and Healthful Foods Project, which provides evidence-based suggestions to ensure that all foods sold in schools are healthy and safe.
The survey of registered voters found the majority of respondents supported a serving of fruits or vegetables (95 percent), foods made from whole grains (75 percent) and a cap on salt (81 percent) with every school meal.
Congress failed to reauthorize the National School Lunch Program—which provides free or reduced-cost lunches to children from families in need—in September. The program is currently funded through an emergency continuity bill passed at that time, which expires this month.
The School Nutrition Association, New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, and Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have all lobbied Congress recently to reauthorize the bill with a number of provisions, including expanding summer food programs, an increase in reimbursement levels and having more leeway on such matters as whole grain, sodium and a la carte requirements.